AUTHOR'S NOTES:

I fell in love with a short story called "TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT" by SEVERUSGIRL (www . fanfiction . net / s / 1949184 / 1 / Tonights_The_Night), and emailed the author requesting if I could write an epilogue to her wonderful piece, since it ended at a scene that left me simply dying for more. She has kindly allowed me to give you the end of this story, so here it is!

TIMELINE: Begins 1998 (Hermione Granger's summer after Seventh Year at Hogwarts has ended). I will not spoil the end date for you (it's part of the plot).

STORY SPECIFICS: Alternate Universe (events after novel #4 never happened; Cedric Diggory didn't die, Harry won the Tri-Wizard Tournament, Voldemort was not resurrected and there was no war). Years Five, Six and Seven were filled with regular teenage angst stuff for our cast, but nothing world-shaking, like in the canon novels. At least, this is what I gathered by the original fanfic as written by Severusgirl. Characters are OCC (because seriously, Draco would not end up with Hermione in JKR's world no matter what, so ANY fic with this pairing in OCC anyway).

SUMMARY: Epilogue to "Tonight's The Night" by Severusgirl (written with her permission). After having given her virginity away to Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger must now face the consequences of that decision...What was supposed to have been just a single night of casual sex for both she and her one-time rival evolved into a deeper, more powerful connection between them by the morning, as Hermione and Draco discovered sides of themselves they'd never knew existed before during their night of incredible love making. Unfortunately, Draco's already promised to Pansy Parkinson in marriage. He's offered for Hermione to be his sole mistress instead - but that plan just isn't sitting well with Hermione one single, itty bit. Is the new, fragile, untested love and burning desire she and Draco nurtured in each other's arms that one night enough to conquer a lifetime of prejudice and social expectations? Sex really screws everything up, doesn't it? Obsession, jealousy, betrayal, a journey of self-discovery, friendship, and learning to surrender to the power of real love - this multi-part fic will have it all!

PAIRINGS: A darker Draco (as established by the original authoress) x Hermione

RATING: M+ (NC-17: explicit sexual situations - consensual and non-consensual; coarse language; physical fighting/violence; alcohol use & smoking)

STORY DEDICATED TO: SEVERUSGIRL (for a brilliant concept and for allowing me the privilege of borrowing her story), UNSEENLIBRARIAN (for her constant friendship and support), and for the others who have shown me continual encouragement with their constant emails, reviews and PMs, especially (in alphabetical order): CEYLON, CLAIRRENO, CULLEN'S PET, DAONLEESAM, DEMIMI10, DIA*G*ONALLEY, DRACOSGRL007, ECHOESOFSILENCE, ETERNALSUNSET7, FLOWERCHILD67, HP0247, IGOTEAMEDWARD, KAMIKAZE-TRYST, KATATONICREDHEAD, KITE101, LADY SERPENTINA, LATIN TIGRESS, MS. LOUIS CORDICE ZABINI, MUSICOFMYHEART, PENPALIE, RIVER RAMSDEN, ROSE ELEANOR SCHULTZ, SARAHR85, SASOLOVE111, SIN-AND-SMOKIN, STARLIGHT-X-A-X, THE VIRGIN BUTTERFLY, VELVET STORM and XXJAMESLILYCUTESTXX.

TO SEE PICTURES FOR THIS FANFIC (pics of the characters, locations, etc.), GO TO: http:/ / s905 . photobucket . com / albums / ac260 / RZZMG / Tonights%20The%20Night%20Epilogue/ (remove all spaces to load that URL properly)

I hope you all enjoy! Please review!

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT: EPILOGUE

By RZZMG

CHAPTER ONE: LETTING GO OF YOU

The Three Broomsticks, Diagon Alley, London, England

Saturday, August 1st, 1998 (morning)

With a reluctant last kiss, Draco tucked Hermione into his warm, broad chest, his hands molding themselves around the sway of her naked back. His ripped shirt hung off of one of her shoulders, dangling forlornly from her well satiated, ravaged body as she threw herself desperately into the embrace, slamming her hands into his soft, platinum strands and gripping feverishly. Inside the cage of her chest, her heart beat fiercely.

"Tomorrow night, nine o'clock, right here," he restated firmly in a low growl, nibbling on her neck. "You promise to wear another one of those Muggle thongs for me, and I'll bring more champagne and strawberries, baby."

Hermione said nothing, biting back the tears behind her lashes, leaning up on tiptoe to nuzzle her cheek against his throat, her voice having failed her along with her courage.

He was leaving her in a few minutes to go with his father to the wizarding solicitors to negotiate terms for his prenuptial agreement. He still planned on marrying pureblooded Pansy Parkinson, the Bitch Queen of Slytherin. Which meant Draco expected her to be his mistress.

That was the one arrangement Hermione could not abide. Her self-respect and pride may have taken a backseat to sanity and lust last night, but in the full light of day, the reality was that she could never be "the other woman." Something inside her would fundamentally die… not to mention her friendships would probably be destroyed with Harry and Ron, who would be furious if they ever found out what had happened, and not just the act from the night before, but that she'd actually contemplated allowing Malfoy to use her in such a manner. For her own sanity and dignity, this was one proposition she couldn't consent to suffer.

He stepped back in the open doorway, holding onto her hand, his fingers rubbing against hers tenderly, as if he was loathe to part from her. She gave him a sad smile, her heart tugging painfully behind her ribs. "Thank you again… for making my first time so wonderful."

Her lover's blue-grey eyes narrowed slightly, as if he was suspect of her lack of verbal commitment to his plans. "Tomorrow night, Granger. I'll see you then." He let her hand go and turned on his heel to walk away. Two steps out, he rounded on her once more. "I'll wait for you here - all night."

With that, he was gone from her life.

Shutting the door to the suite she'd occupied for the evening, she leaned against it, listening for his footsteps to fade completely before allowing her tears to finally come. To her horror, her knees wobbled and gave, but she barely felt the pain of hitting hard against the wooden floor as her sorrow swept her up and consumed her. With shoulders shaking violently, she sobbed unreservedly, feeling utterly foolish for having given her body and her feelings over to the young man who had done nothing but hurt her continually for the last seven years.

But all of that injury during their school days couldn't come close to equaling the pain Draco had gifted her with this time.

No, nothing quite equaled the anguish of her very first, true heartbreak.

X~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X

The Ministry of Magic, London, England

Monday, August 31st, 1998 (afternoon)

Hermione returned to her station in the law library in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at Ministry Headquarters from a very lovely lunch break, having agreed to meet up with Harry and Ron in the on-site cafeteria (a new addition earlier this year to the massive underground maze of governance). Her friends were under the Auror's division, while she was directly under Magical Law Enforcement's directorship, so even though they reported to the same Big Boss at the end of the day, they rarely saw each other during working hours, except during their weekly lunches (always held on a Monday). Catching up with them was loads of fun, especially since they had unique perspectives on gossip within the department.

She'd just walked in the door when her slightly older co-worker and newly made friend, Jen, jumped on her in excitement (the woman had gone to school with Charlie Weasley and been sorted into Hufflepuff). "You've got a package, dearie!" Before she could utter a surprised guess as to the giver might be, she was hustled over to her desk, where upon sat said present. It was a basket of some kind, wrapped up in brown paper and tied off with a single dark green, satin ribbon.

Hermione's heart started pattering like mad.

No, it couldn't be from him. It was a simple coincidence that the ribbon was green, that's all. Perhaps it was an early birthday gift from the Weasleys or Minerva McGonagall (whom she'd kept in relatively good contact with over the last two months, since graduation).

"It's from a man who loves you," her friend sing-songed the prediction with confidence. She tapped the side of her nose with her index finger. "I have a gift for knowing these things. It runs in the family."

Shaking her head, Hermione sniffed in amusement. "Pish posh," she smiled brightly to gentle the rebuke. "Unless it's from my father or Harry and Ron. Those are the only possibilities that fit the criteria. But my birthday isn't for half a month, yet, and they all know it. Whatever it is, it must have been delivered to the wrong desk is all."

Jen shook her head. "Oh, no. The delivery man specifically asked for you by name. A hunky thing, too. I'd have loved to have received a little 'present' from him, if you take my meaning." She growled sexily like a faux lioness and stretched her arms above her head with a pleased sigh, lost in her imagination for the moment.

Swallowing her pride and grabbing a hold of her curiosity (a dangerous preoccupation, she knew), Hermione asked the one question she knew she'd regret later: "Oh? What did he look like then?" She'd tried to sound disinterested, but there was a hint of desperation to know the truth there at the end, and she was sure that Jen would have picked it up.

Fortunately, her friend was too caught up in her own fantasies. "Hmmm? What did you say?" She shook herself out of her trance and focused. "What did he look like? Well…" Placing that same cue finger against her lips, she tapped in thoughtful consideration, as if the act could jar her memories. "He was tall, built proportioned, had an arse worth grabbing, and the most beautiful grey-blue eyes you've ever seen. Striking white-blonde hair that looked silky and shiny. Smelled incredible – you know how I'm into colognes, girl. The scent was like mandarin oranges, Italian bergamot, anise and cardamom all wrapped up in one - got me wet just sniffing the air around him! He had a look in his eye, too… you know, like he was up to no good. From his smirk, I think it'll probably involve something sexual." She smacked her lips together loudly. "Sinfully delicious, that one was. I'd eat him up if I could." She leaned a hip against Hermione's desk and crossed her arms over her chest, grinning. "So, how do you know such a devilish angel anyway?"

Yes, that just about summed up Draco Malfoy, all right.

Sighing deeply, Hermione felt tightness in her chest that had nothing to do with indigestion from the lunch she'd just partaken. "I don't… know him, that is," she fibbed, crossing her fingers behind her back. "Like I said, it must have been from a friend."

Looking at the delivery, she knew – just knew – what would be inside, and for that reason, she dreaded opening it. Maybe she could just give it to her co-worker instead? No, what if it had a card inside addressed for her eyes only? It would be a disaster if such a thing were to end up in someone else's hands. She had no choice but to open it herself. That didn't mean she had to do it here, however, in the office.

Feigning ignorance, she reached up and took the gift basket in both hands (it was heavy, and she heard the unmistakable clink as the bottle inside jarred against something hard and that confirmed her suspicions), and placed it on the floor, sliding it under her desk with a foot. "I'll open it at home. I have too much work to do right now to play around. Madam Director Bones wants the monthly report on expenses by the end of this week, and I have a slew of requests to fill." She looked pointedly at Jen. "You wouldn't mind helping with any of that, would you?"

Putting her hands up between them to ward off Hermione's request quickly, Jen grinned slyly. "Sorry, my plate is full, too." She looked up at the clock on the wall. "My, is that the time already? Must be going if I intend on making my deadlines as well! Talk to you later!"

Her co-worker hurried out the door as fast as her size sevens in heels could move, and Hermione sighed again. Quickly gathering one of the piles from her "INBOX," she began going through the book request receipts from various individuals throughout the Ministry, the packing slips for book deliveries from Flourish & Blotts, WizzHard Books, and other publishing clearing houses throughout the world, and the invoices for new procurements and re-printings. In a monumental task that took her the whole rest of the afternoon, she sorted, calculated and budgeted, then prioritized, filed and approved as many of the documents as she was authorized to do so. The rest she left for her boss, who was head of the Law Library to determine appropriateness.

And the whole time, she tapped her naked toe (she'd taken one shoe off) against the gift basket, stressed out and anxiety-ridden by the obvious intent behind the present.

X~~~~~X

Hermione's Flat - Mornington Terrace, Camden NW1, London, England

Monday, August 31st, 1998 (night)

The only person who would understand her feelings, and whose encouragement she desperately needed that evening as she got home around six o'clock, and finally unwrapped the present (which was as she expected, a bottle of the finest champagne and a container of luscious, ripe strawberries, as well as a selection of the world's smoothest, richest chocolates… accompanied by an emotionally devastating note that asked her to meet him in "their room" again this upcoming Friday night at nine o'clock), was her best friend, Ginny. Placing a Floo call in to The Burrow, she found the little redhead had just gotten in herself from a long day finishing up her purchases from Diagon Alley (she started school on the morrow). One look at her anxious face, though, and Gin came shooting over to Hermione's flat in London (she'd just been settled in it for the last two weeks, and many things were still in boxes).

She offered her friend a drink, reaching for one of those Muggle cold, bottled mixed alcoholic drinks (in this case, a classic Margarita), popping the top on the bottle opener that had been screwed into the bottom of her kitchen cabinet by the previous renters, and taking a long drag without another word.

"That bad, huh?" her girlfriend asked, taking an ice cold bottle of the neon green liquid for herself and opening her own lid, sipping cautiously, watching carefully.

Hermione leaned against the kitchen counter and stared across the space – the flat was a medium-sized loft with a high ceiling in one of the best parts of Camden NW1 to live in, right near the park (situated much as Grimmauld Place was, nestled between buildings magically) – contemplating how much to tell and where to start.

So she did. Gin's eyes widened and her mouth actually dropped open from practically the beginning of Hermione's tale and didn't shut even when her own mouth did and her voice cut off at the end, after having explained today's present. There was an awkward silence between them, the air still except for the movement of her bottle to her lips. She drank deep, waiting for a response.

"Holy. Shit."

Hermione continued to drink. Half her bottle was now gone. Would it be a smart thing for her to get totally plastered tonight, even though there was work tomorrow? She had plenty of chilled alcohol in the flat (all of it left over from her house warming party).

"You really fucked Draco Malfoy?"

She nodded and took another hit to whet her suddenly dry mouth.

"You gave Draco ferret face Malfoy your virginity?"

Another bob of her head, another gulp.

"And now you're both in love with each other - because of one night of boinking?"

She shrugged as she took another hit. "I didn't expect it to happen, especially not with him, but yes."

Another one of those strange pauses grabbed the space for several heartbeats.

"You're sure we're talking about the same Malfoy here?"

Hermione sighed heavily in disgust. "Yes, we're talking about Draco sodding Malfoy, Slytherin's Viper Prince. Yes, I know who he is and what he spent the last seven years doing to me and you and everyone else, and I definitely wasn't thinking too rationally that night when I agreed to let him into my room, but… Gin, it happened. I thought I could rationalize it and put it behind me." She looked over at the forlorn basket sitting on her kitchen counter, untouched, and swallowed hard. "But I can't. I haven't been able to stop thinking about him for the last four weeks – not once. I close my eyes and I see him and hear him still. I catch myself looking for him in crowds. If I inhale deep enough and imagine it, I can still smell his cologne." She pressed the chilled bottle to her forehead and walked into the Living Room, slumping down against the sofa cushions, trying to will away the tears that burned the back of her eyelids. "This is haunting me, Gin. He's haunting me. And it hurts, a lot. I know what I felt for Viktor or Harry or even Ron, for that short period of time I was interested in him, wasn't anything like this. That was simply lust, this…"

"Is a dangerous obsession," her friend finished bluntly for her, joining her on the sofa. "One that can seriously destroy you if you don't let it go."

She nodded. "I know that. In my head, I know that what you're saying is true, but in my heart…" The first wet trails headed down her cheeks. It was the first time since that night a month ago that she'd allowed herself to feel this pain that she'd so carefully locked away. "How could I want him, Gin? How could I after everything he did? I know probably better than anyone what he's like: he's selfish, arrogant, and cruel. How could I care for someone like that?"

Her friend took several sips from her own bottle before replying. "You said it yourself: because he made you feel special. But 'Mione, he said what he needed to so he could get what he wanted from you – just like what he's always done to women. You said he'd copped to seducing his way through all four Houses from the time he was seventeen, not to mention at least one teacher, and he probably left a trail of broken hearts in his wake. That's how he knew how to handle you and your virginity so well. He's had loads of practice."

Hermione knew everything Ginny said was true. Draco had handled her with skilled expertise. Further, he'd made it clear that he could emotionally distance himself from his future wife – the woman he was supposed to be faithful to and cherish - to continue having casual sex with other women. That, in itself, was rather despicable to her sensibilities and damned his case.

Still, the memory of his voice echoed in her mind, freshly opening the wound wider…

"Any time you want this to stop, it will. Anything you don't want me to do, I won't. All I ask is that you dance with me, and see where we go from there..."

"I was right, wasn't I? Better to do this with someone you couldn't...possibly...fall in love with."

"I fucking love you...understand?"

She'd been so sure that she was somehow different to him. He'd seemed sincere when he left, as if she were somehow more important to him than other women. As if he had never told anyone before that he loved them in that way.

"Please come," the note attached to his gift had read. "I'll wait all night for you."

Glancing over at the basket once more, she couldn't help but wonder if their time together had been merely a cleverly manipulated one-off on his part, why he continued to pursue her? She'd rejected Malfoy by not returning the next night when he'd demanded it of her, so he should have gotten the hint, right? He should be after his next conquest, not continuing to pester her.

"Will you go?" her best friend asked hesitantly, having been informed of the invitation for Friday night. She was nervously peeling the label off her damp bottle.

Downing the last of her drink, Hermione shook her head, this decision already made prior to Ginny coming to her Floo. "No, I won't be any man's mistress. Not ever."

Gin clinked the lips of their bottles together in salute. "I knew you hadn't lost your inner lioness, 'Mione, even if you temporarily lost your sanity." Her friend looked her dead in the eye then, all seriousness. "You're doing the right thing not allowing yourself to be used. It's going to hurt badly for a while – believe me, I know. But you'll respect yourself for it in the end."

For the first time, Hermione wondered if that look in Ginny's eye – the one that said she understood what Hermione was going through - had anything to do with the girl's abrupt loss of interest in one Mr. Harry Potter last year…

X~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X

Hermione's Flat - Mornington Terrace, Camden NW1, London, England

Friday, September 4th, 1998 (night)

Hermione spent the evening indulging in the champagne and chocolates Draco had so kindly sent her (she'd eaten the strawberries on top of her waffles the morning after receiving them), curled up in front of her telly and watching her favorite Muggle movies, snuggled under a throw blanket for warmth. She finished the bottle by one a.m., and promptly passed out on the couch.

That was the first night in over a month that she hadn't dreamed of Draco Malfoy.

X~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X

The Ministry of Magic, London, England

Wednesday, September 30th, 1998 (afternoon)

Hermione returned to her desk after lunch to find another gift basket – wrapped again in plain brown paper and tied off with a green ribbon - waiting for her. Dread filled her stomach. It had been almost a month since she'd given any thoughts whatsoever to Malfoy, having promised herself to let her feelings for him go and move on.

"Another basket, same delivery man," Jen chimed in from her side, having snuck up on her unexpected. "Definitely not a coincidence. You've got an admirer."

What could she say to that? Clearly, the gig was up. Instead of losing her temper, though, Hermione simply played the fact off as unimportant, shrugging. "I'm not interested in the least."

Jen gasped. "How could you not be? Have you seen this guy? He's… wow. Girl, you'd be a fool not to get a piece of that action."

Hermione said nothing, simply walked around her desk, picked up the basket and put it down underneath at her feet, as she had done with the previous gift.

"Oh, my," Jen breathed out in sudden understanding. "You have had a piece already. Not any good I take it?"

Shrugging, Hermione picked up the contents of her "INBOX" and began sorting through them. "Doesn't matter. I'm not going to see him again."

Her co-worker was quiet for a minute, and Hermione was comfortably aware of the woman's knowing eyes measuring her during that span of time. "If you need something, let me know, okay?"

Not looking up from her task, Hermione nodded. "Sure. Thanks."

Jen left on quiet feet, heading back out the open door to her own desk one room away. When the woman's door clicked shut, Hermione stood on shaky legs and closed her own portal, then returned to her seat and withdrew the basket, opening it.

Champagne, strawberries and chocolate.

"I'm not giving up," the attached note read in perfect penmanship. "I'll be in our room this Friday night at nine o'clock in the evening. I'll wait all night again. I miss you, Hermione. Please come."

She cursed her stupidity as the tears fell from her cheeks. He shouldn't matter to her anymore. He had a fiancée now. It was time to tell him to move on, so she could do likewise.

Penning a reply, she sent for an owl and bade it go to Malfoy Manor in Wiltshire, and give the note to no one except Draco Malfoy himself. When that was done, she went to see her boss about getting the rest of the day off, citing illness (which wasn't far from the truth, as she felt rather nauseous at that point). Then, taking her gift basket, she Floo'd home, biting back her tears.

"Stop pursuing me," she'd requested of her former lover in the card she sent back to him, his message crossed out purposefully above, hers written directly below. "It isn't fair to either your fiancée or to me. There can never be anything more between us. Just forget about that night, please."

X~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X

Hermione's Flat - Mornington Terrace, Camden NW1, London, England

Friday, October 2nd, 1998 (night)

Ginny, Lavender, Hannah, Jen and Luna were early for their girl's night out, Hermione thought as she rushed to the door of her flat wearing only her bath robe, her hair dripping from her recently completed shower. Running a towel through it to get the moisture sopped up, she undid the latches on her door and threw it open, expecting to see her best girlfriends with offers to help her get ready.

What she hadn't expected was for Draco Malfoy to push her rather roughly up against the wall just inside the doorway and proceed to smash his mouth down onto hers in a blazing kiss that left her bereft of all cognizant thought. The towel slipped from her hands heedlessly to the wooden floor, as she was shocked into all insensibility.

"You wouldn't come to me, so I'm here for you," he heatedly growled against her mouth, ripping at her robe, tearing it open, his hot, forceful hands running over her breasts, his tongue doing damning things to her sanity. It took another minute, and the intrusion of his fingers pressing expertly into the wet, sensitive slit between her legs, for her to regain any semblance of mind and control.

Snapping to, she pushed at his bigger body ineffectually. "No! Stop!"

Draco would not be denied, however. His kisses continued to brand her, following her mouth each time she turned her head to get away, not letting up, not giving her a chance to catch her breath. An insistent knee spread her legs and she heard the clink of a belt buckle being undone, a zipper pulled down quickly. Her struggles increased as she realized what was about to happen. "Don't," she pleaded, shoving at the wall of his solid chest muscle feebly, her still-damp heels sliding on the waxed flooring, unable to find purchase long enough to make an effective stand. "We can't."

"We can," he stated firmly, his tongue snaking out to lap at hers, coaxing and taking both at once. "We are."

With that, he lifted her small frame off the floor, pinned her to the wall with his greater weight, spread her thighs wide using the span of his body to open her up, and entered her with one swift, powerful thrust of his hips. Hermione winced at being violated so forcefully after not having had sex in two long months, but gasped at the blissful sensation of being reunited with this man she had craved for so long. She felt the tip of his wand press against her belly, and the spell to prevent pregnancy – Recondo – cast. When that was finished, he tossed his wand to the floor, and proceeded to give no respite, moving immediately, roughly pounding into her with the same ferocity as he had shown their last time together.

"This... is wrong," she hissed, closing her eyes and leaning her head against the wall as she fought the stimulating pleasure of being ridden hard and fast by him again. "We can't be together."

Draco was insatiable and driven, and refused her rejection vehemently. "You're mine," he snarled against her throat as he rammed his solid, velvet length into her over and over again, pressing a suckling, wet kiss to her neck, leaving behind a bruising love bite in marking. "I won't let you go," he rasped in between lunges. "I won't forget what we did." Slam. "Or what I feel for you." Slam. "And I won't ever let you forget." Slam. "Never, Granger." Wham.

Hermione was mewling into his shoulder in a combination of ecstasy and sorrow. Her petite hands gripped his arms tightly, moved to tunnel through and muss his silken hair, pulling him in tighter even as her legs wrapped firmly about him, holding him close. "Draco," she whimpered in his ear. "Oh, gods… Draco, please…" She didn't know whether she was begging him to pull out or to never stop, so messed up were her feelings in that moment. What he was doing to her was both pleasure and pain on a level that ripped into her very soul, leaving her confused and emotionally devastated.

"I love you," he breathed tenderly against her cheek, slowing down, shoving himself into her with long, thick strokes that didn't penetrate so deeply, but filled her up to the point of bursting, shredding her resolve. "I can't stop thinking of you, Hermione. I can't stop wanting you. Every day you're on my mind, in my dreams." He kissed her with sweet need, lapping at her mouth hungrily. "I'm lost for you."

Aching with need and love, she returned his kiss finally, giving in to the flames of wild desire that licked at her entire body, inciting the hot blaze of arousal raging between them. Just once more, she granted her heart permission. This will be the last time. Willing herself over to her yearnings, her body responded joyfully, hips moving frantically in time with his as she rode the sensual lightning he evoked deep in her belly.

Sensing her surrender, Draco's momentum sped up again, his hips lunging with renewed vigor. "Tell me you feel the same," he begged against her lips, and she felt him tighten up, felt her own body respond similarly, knowing they were both reaching for simultaneous climax.

Opening her eyes, she drowned in his blue-grey depths, falling hard all over again. "Merlin help me, but I do," she whispered brokenly, and then her orgasm peaked and freed her, floating her high above the plain of sadness that had engulfed her for the last two months, into a realm of feathery light feeling and warmth, where she was surrounded by Draco's intense want of her, and nothing else in the world mattered. It lasted only seconds, but it was the most beautiful thing Hermione had ever experienced and she clung to it, committed it to heart and mind so she would never forget how wonderful this moment with him always was.

Her lover erupted into her in a series of fiery, deep spurts at the same time, crying out against her mouth, her name wrung from between his lips in desperation as he came rather violently deep inside her. Moments later, he slumped against her breast, his perspiring brow pressed to her damp neck, struggling to regain normalcy the same as she, clinging tightly to her for long minutes.

When her lungs recovered and her blood slowed, Hermione let her legs drop down and Draco eased up on his grip, pulling out of her and allowing her to slide down the wall to her feet. When her knees stopped quivering enough for her to stand on her own, she indicated that she wanted to be let go. Draco, however, had other plans.

Leaning in, he recaptured her mouth, running one hand through her drying curls, fisting the hair and forcing her not to move. "I meant every word, baby," he admitted softly in between kisses, belying his rather dominant touches. "Not just for tonight, either. I want you to be mine always. Say you'll consent to be with me."

Harsh reality crashed in to ruin the mood, bringing with it all of the negative emotions she had ignored in the heat of the moment. The memory of the announcement in last month's Daily Prophet of Draco's forthcoming nuptials was overlaid with the visual of a dark haired, pug-nosed girl smirking triumphantly for the camera, showing off a rather large diamond engagement ring while being cradled in Malfoy's arms.

He belonged to someone else. She couldn't be with him as he wanted. It was time to remind him of that bitter fact.

"And what does Pansy have to say about that?" Her tone was biting acid, rancorous as she struggled once again against her tears, knowing in advance the outcome of this fight, which had been months in the conception and churning.

Her lover tensed up, pulling his mouth off of hers. "Nothing. It's not her place to say anything."

With the return of reason and sense came a burning anger at his casual indifference to his recently-withdrawn bachelor status. "She's your fiancée, Draco. You're marrying her next May, for Godric's sake. I think she'd have a lot to say about the fact that you could care less about the vows you're about to take with her." She shook her head in growing resentment. "No, I won't aid you in cheating on her."

Storm grey eyes narrowed and his jaw went taut. "You just did."

Wrong thing to say.

She shoved against him, digging her nails into his wrist. "I can't believe you! Just... gods! Let me go, you ego maniacal arsehole."

Grimacing at the pain she was undoubtedly causing him, Draco did just the opposite of her wishes; he pressed her back against the wall using his larger frame and weight again to hold her captive, his free hand dipping between the folds of her lower lips once more to caress her where his come was beginning to slide down slowly between her legs. "No," he refused vehemently, nipping at her bottom lip, rubbing his seed all over her core, through her wet flesh, pushing some back up inside her with two fingers. "I won't. I can't. I need you."

Fighting the riotous sexual energy he was building back up between them, Hermione worked to ignore the feelings and stick to the conversation. "Well, I need you not to marry Pansy. Looks like neither of us is going to get what we want." She grabbed his wrist, trying to arrest his fingers.

He sighed, his hand never stopping its irresistible caressing. "We discussed this two months ago. You know I have to marry a pureblooded witch. But that doesn't mean we can't be together. We can have any night, weekend or holiday together that I'm not required to be with my family or on business."

Being reminded once more of just how truly insignificant she rated in Draco's life overall – that she would always take a back seat to Pansy, any children he would have with her, his parents, and even his gods damned work - was a vicious stab wound to Hermione's heart. She shoved his hands out of her body and used all of her strength to push him off of her. She succeeded in moving him only inches. "That's all I'm good for, is it? A second-string shag when nothing more important comes up." She sneered in disgust and pointed to the door. "Get out! Just get the hell out of my flat right now and never come back, Malfoy! I mean it!" She was yelling at him now, helpless tears scalding down her cheeks in humiliation and fury.

How could she have been so stupid? To allow this to happen once was forgivable, but twice? Unacceptable.

She'd known what kind of creature Draco Malfoy was from the time they were kids, so this sort of heartless, self-centered behavior from him shouldn't have come as any surprise really. That she'd expected him to be different just showed how totally idiotic sex made a person. Tigers don't change their stripes and snakes always have fangs, her mother had warned her often as a child. Well, Malfoy was a top predator, all right, and definitely king of all things reptilian. She should have heeded the wisdom, yet because, she'd totally ignored the sage advice and done the unthinkable with him two months ago... Well, now she was paying for it - knew she would continue to pay for it long after tonight, too.

She wouldn't be making that mistake again.

"I don't want to see you anymore. I don't want to hear from you either. This is the end," she informed him curtly, wiping at her eyes with trembling hands, angry with her own weakness and lack of common sense. She clutched at her robe, fisting the fabric to hide her nakedness away. Gods, had she really just let him fuck her right here in her open doorway like some sort of cheap doxy? She had, hadn't she? And now all her neighbors knew exactly what kind of woman she was, too! This was a bloody disaster! "I'm going… to pretend that… that none of this ever happened," she stammered between sobs, feeling her chest throbbing in pure agony, hating what she'd become because of this wizard before her; what she'd let him turn her into, all in the name of a thrill or three. "Being with you… it was the worst mistake of my life!" she cursed, gasping for breath, fallen into a full blown fit now, her hands shaking forcefully as she clasped them together before her as if in prayer. "I wish it had never happened! I wish I'd never taken you up on your offer!" She broke apart into so many pieces then that she wasn't sure she would ever recover fully. "Oh, gods! Why did I ever let you touch me?"

A fist slammed hard into the wall to her left, next to her cheek, cutting off her tirade abruptly - like a switch thrown into the "off" position - as shock set in at the escalated level of violence he'd just perpetrated. Draco was in her face again a second later, rage and pain marring his beautiful features. "What we've done… none of it was a mistake, Granger. Don't ever say that again!" he finished on a shout, moving in once more, trying to trap her so she couldn't escape him again. His other hand caged her in by anchoring against the wall on her other side at waist level, assuring she couldn't move in either direction. "I won't go away. You can't hide from this, Hermione! You can't wish any of it away either! I'm in love with you, and you're in love with me and there's no walking away now. Why do you refuse to understand that?"

She snarled at him amidst her tears, quickly wrapping her robe fully about herself again, retying the knot, not wanting to be so exposed and vulnerable anymore. "Oh, I understand perfectly fine, Draco! I understand that I'll never be good enough in your eyes, because I'm Muggle-born." She shoved him back again, using the moment of his off-balance to gain a few steps away to the left, moving into the living room proper. The added distance between them bucked her courage some, gave her the space she needed to vent. "I understand that the horribly cruel and shallow Pansy Parkinson's only credit to her name is her pedigree, but that seems to be good enough to make her your wife." Now her back went ramrod straight as her ire enveloped her. "And I definitely understand that you don't love me enough to want me as anything more than your fuck toy!" She roughly wiped her tears aside with her palm, her chin elevating a tad as her pride was reclaimed. "But there's something I want you to understand right here and now, Malfoy: I will never be your mistress. I'm no consolation prize to be had whenever you're looking for an easy time. And because you won't give me more respect than that, I don't want any bit of you or what you're offering." She pointed again at the door. "Now get out, and never talk to me again, you selfish jerk!"

He was seething, about to open his mouth to retort when someone cleared their throat from the doorway. "'Mione, do you need any help?"

Both she and Draco stiffened and went silent, realizing their conversation had unintentionally been overheard from the open entry. Looking around his shoulder, Hermione spied all five of her closest girlfriends standing in the hallway just outside her door, all dressed for their night of club hopping, and all with their mouths and eyes opened in shock. Even the normally passive and capricious Luna seemed aware of the discomfort of the situation and seemed somewhat edgy.

Turning hard eyes on Malfoy, Hermione spoke clearly and concisely. "No, I'm fine. Thanks, Gin. This unwanted guest was just leaving."

The hint was clearly received. Keeping his back to the door, Draco tucked himself back into his pants and righted his trousers, zipping them back up and fixing his belt, staring her down the whole time. The noises these actions produced were loud and obvious in the narrow space, and Hermione felt her face heat up in embarrassment; there would be no doubt to her friends now as to what had happened here between her and Malfoy. "This isn't over, Hermione," he promised in a low, measured tone. "We're going to talk about this tomorrow."

She shook her head firmly and pointed again to the exit. "You've said enough. Now go home to your fiancée, Draco. I'm sure she's waiting up for you."

Ice-hard eyes glared at her, and he held out his hand, silently Accio-ing his wand to it from where it had tumbled to the floor upon his entrance. He never took his gaze from her face as he Apparated away from her flat with a loud crack.

As soon as he was gone, Hermione's arm dropped to her side and she felt her heart sink to the floor. Somehow, she knew this wasn't the end. Draco's face had said loud and clear that he had no intention of giving up his pursuit of her. He was a Malfoy, and he was used to getting what he wanted, no matter what it took. He'd proven how convincing and manipulative he could be that night he'd proposed they sleep together for the first time. She'd given into him then - and that was before she'd fallen in love with him. Would she have the strength to keep resisting him?

The truth was, she was terrified of the prospect of not being able to trust herself any longer. "Merlin, help me," she whispered, feeling tears slip back down her cheeks again. Burying her face in her hands she sobbed uncontrollably, dread consuming her again.

Comforting arms came around her then – Ginny's. Gentle hands touched her back, her hair, guided her to the couch and helped her sit – Jen, Lavender, Hannah. Minutes later, warm chamomile tea was passed along to calm her – Luna.

That night, her friends sat with her, forsaking their previous plans, and they let her talk and cry and jettison the toxic poison that her love for Draco Malfoy had become. When she was utterly spent from the emotional outpouring, they tucked her into her bed and quietly left for their homes, sometime around the midnight hour. Ginny stayed over, sharing the bed with Hermione, to be there when the nightmares overtook her, offering calm reassurances and whispered promises when she awoke in tears. Once more, her best girlfriend reminded her that time would, someday, make the hurt go away. In the meantime, she would just have to bear the sorrow with head held high. A former Gryffindor could do no less.

TO BE CONTINUED...

AUTHOR'S EXTENDED NOTES:

MUSICAL SELECTIONS (listened to while writing this fic, and recommended to you to listen to while reading): "Love Hurts," "Farewell," "Maybe," and "All Myself To You" by Yiruma.

SONG THAT REFLECTS THIS CHAPTER SPECIFICALLY: "Jar of Hearts" by Christina Perri (hear it here: www . youtube . com / watch?v=HH7WXlf9WLk (remove all spaces in that URL for it to load properly)