Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter Series, nor do I make money off of this story.

Last time:

I'd always thought of Malfoy as an incubus of emotions, he liked to feed off of other peoples, mainly; stress, annoyance, frustration, embarrassment and the like. He liked to know what made people tick, and he loved to use it against them.

"I-I...Of course I knew you were joking." She waved her hand in a carefree way as she attempted a chuckle. "Where is he going to go from here?" She gestured to herself. "Only a few women could ever compete." She finished with a self satisfied smirk.

With a look of thanks from Zabini, I returned to my meal.

* Rest Room= British equivalent of Break Room

* Daux- A defensive trait that some Dominants a born with. Will be further discussed in a later chapter.

My spelling is often times British, as I am British.

An incessant tapping at the top of my head grabbed my attention away from my task. It was an interdepartmental Memo, the plane shaped messages that were used for communication throughout the ministry. At times, I wish they would simply find some way to use landline phones as they were less annoying and could be silenced at any time.

Not that I didn't welcome the distraction. Meeting minutes were a bore, especially when those minutes were of Centaur meetings.

Our representatives of The Centaur Liaisons Office of The Beast Division had recently met with a few centaurs. The minutes were cryptic as was usual with the centaurs.

I'd always found that the minutes of The Goblin Liaisons Office of The Being Division to be more meaty, as the goblins, naturally, always had much to say.

"For Merlin's sake" I sighed as I discarded the notice. It seemed that a very insistent Malfoy was here to see me.

I didn't have to check my agenda to know that Malfoy was not on it, I would surely have remembered having to meet with him.

I'm sure I explained to the man that he needed to make an appointment, though; I'm not sure why on earth I thought that he would listen to me.

Send him in.

I penned the short message to Tonya and sent it on its way.

The muffled click of men's loafers signaled his approach. There was only one other man whose shoes made that level of noise, and it could not be him, as the boss was out for most of the morning.

I'd noticed a while back that the higher up a man was on the job ladder, the noisier his shoes tended to be.

I guess that was because the leather capped shoe soles were prone to make more noise than the rubber soles that the average wizard could afford.

The door swung open revealing Malfoy and a breathless Tonya who must have chased the huge male as fast as her little legs could carry her.

"Hermione-" she said as she gulped a mouthful of air. It was procedure for her to announce someone before they came into my office, a procedure which was quite antiquated in my opinion. It was quite unnecessary as more often than not, a message would be sent beforehand.

"That's fine Tonya. Thank you." I said, allowing her to catch her breath. She nodded gratefully and backed out into the hallway closing the door.

"How may I help you Mister Malfoy?" I sighed without looking up from the monotonous minutes.

"Granger" He said in greeting as he took a seat without being asked to.

"So…Mr Malfoy, what brings you here today?" I asked as I shuffled my papers and put them away before finally looking up.

He was dressed in a full black turtleneck with a black blazer, and black trouser. Typical.

"What? What do you mean what brings me here? This was your idea; you know what brings me here." He said with a sneer.

I mentally counted to three and made a promise to myself not to get upset.

"What I mean-" I attempted to remove the contempt from my voice. I was at work after all. "Mister Malfoy is; what are your problem areas? Is it with acceptance of yourself, issues with acceptance from your family, or do you need guidance coping with your new self?" I said as I drew a notebook and pen from my desk drawer.

"The last time we spoke, we did not go into any particulars, I would like to better understand your situation and needs, so that my responses and activities can be tailored to you." I said in the professional voice that my mind healer used to use on me.

He hesitated, and then distracted himself by looking around the room. I let him collect his thoughts.

"Mister Malfoy, this is a safe place. Anything you say to me will not leave this room without your permission, and even then, only to further assist you." I ensured him.

Unlike the department counselors, I was not magically bound to some level of secrecy. They were not allowed to share any information on a patient unless their lack of sharing would result in; A) A danger to the counselee or B) A danger to others.

There were, however, other loopholes in the agreement, though most were not reading critically enough to find them.

"Family and…self-acceptance." He finally muttered, if I didn't have superior hearing due to my heritage, I'd have missed what he'd said.

"Okay," I said as I adjusted myself in my chair. I knew even before he said it, what his answer would be. "Let's back pedal to…childhood. Growing up, family acceptance, and self-acceptance tend to go hand in hand." I began.

"In general, children tend to accept themselves as much as they, the children, are accepted by their parents and or guardians. Research has shown that before a certain age, children are not able to fully form a sense of themselves, they tend to lean towards that which was conveyed by their guardians."

"Now, from the behavior you displayed as a child…and now as an adult" I muttered the last part. "One could only deduct that your parents instilled certain values, and beliefs." I was very aware of the value and beliefs that were instilled in him as a child, more so than others, but, at the moment, I was trying to make my office as judge-free as possible. A feat in itself when dealing with Malfoy, but he'd been good, he'd kept quiet so far.

"Not to say that you parents did not encourage you, only that their encouragement may have adverse effects on your ability, or lack thereof, to accept yourself." I paused for a second to read his face. "Tell me, the main words used as forms of encouragement in the Malfoy household."

He thought for a moment, a hesitant look on his face. I almost thought that he would not cooperate. "Untainted, uncontaminated, wealthy, pure, clean, rich, pureblood…superior" He slightly cleared his throat. That was more than I expected.

"Well," I said. "I'm going to veto the words 'wealthy' and 'rich' because, as of right now, these are not your major issues. We can return to these later if you want, but the elephants in the room…I mean the major issue" I said correcting the use of the muggle idiom. "are the other words."

"It was instilled in you, that because of your…heritage, that you are greater than others who were not of the same or similar…heritage. You were led to believe that any sort of mixture, whether that be-"

"Mudblood or creature" he sneered cutting me off. "Cut the niceties Granger…Call a shovel a shovel."

"A spade, not a shov…" I sighed, deciding against correcting him. At least he even attempted to use a muggle saying.

"Okay, if it makes you more comfortable, I will change my wording." I acquiesced. "As I was saying, you were led to believe that mixtures are not good, that somehow these mixtures made someone less of a person. These values were so ingrained in you that even when challenged you refused to believe the truth."

"I know what I am." He muttered annoyed.

"I know that," I sighed "that is not what I was referring to." I countered.

"Example, when we were in school, I'm pretty sure you were shocked to find out that a muggle born like myself excelled at most subjects, that a half blood like Harry was such a powerful wizard, that he was able to do certain things better than you, that-"

"Okay, I get the point." He cut of harshly. I blushed a bit. I didn't mean to say all that.

"Sorry" I sighed "Now, remember your reactions in those situations, you were upset, you could not understand it, so you attacked what you didn't understand. We went against the belief system that you were used to and for that reason, you were uncomfortable, and people handle discomfort in different ways."

"Is this supposed to be helping me, or reprimanding me?" He asked. "Because it seems like this meeting has some other agenda."

"I'm getting there, have patience." I reprimanded. "Anyhow, people handle discomfort in many ways. Discomfort, has often been handled in the past with violence and cruelty intent to bend people towards a person's way of thinking. It's normal, and unfair, but that's life. Plenty of religious people and social groups lash out similarly or worse, often demonstrated in the wizard and muggle worlds."

"People tend to cling to their beliefs with all their might, especially ones ingrained since childhood, even in the face of substantial evidence to prove their claims otherwise."

"It's quite a revelation to find that what you have been taught by the people you should trust the most, may not be true. You were secure in the way that you perceived yourself. Then, your inheritance came and did away with the things you were taught. Your family ideals suddenly turned to lies." My mouth was going a mile a minute, as my eyes lost focus scanning my thoughts. "You'd been lied to your entire life, not only are you not 'purebred' as you were led to believe, but you are also not fully human and that in itself speaks to the magnitude of-"I stopped finally taking a breath.

His breathing had changed, the heavy breaths resembling those of a cornered animal. Heaving, his fingers bit into the chair handles and his eyes, the Irises now black, flickered back and forth looking everywhere but up. The corded muscles in his shoulders tensed and the vein in his forehead throbbed.

"Stop it" he gasped. "J-just stop. I-I need to go." He said as he abruptly stood tearing the collar of his turtle neck as if he needed to catch more air.

"Malfoy?" I said too late, he'd scrambled out slamming the door behind him.

BLAISE POV

Shadows danced across her thigh from the warm glow of the fire. Her supple skin glowed.

The black negligee she wore to bed, a stark contrast to her complexion. My fingers cupped her pert backside, slid around her front and pulled her towards me.

Her slight curves dwarfed by my large hands.

"Pet" I croaked, my voice still filled with sleep.

"Hmm?" She groaned as I cuddled her tighter.

"You know what I want." I rumbled as I trailed kisses down her neck and tenderly cupped her breast.

I hadn't had any in a little over six weeks; something always seemed to come up, and Iva was adverse to 'quickies' or spontaneous sex in spontaneous places.

I was hoping that we would get to while we were on Isla Guanau, but unfortunately, Iva was not feeling well when I got around to asking.

Work had been busy for the past couple days, and I did not get home until late. Each time she was asleep. I didn't want to pressure her.

I'd made sure to leave the office as early as I could today in order to spend time with my mate but, unfortunately, being a Saturday evening, she was already out with her friends.

I'd planned to wait up for her, but I knew that it would be the wee hours before she was back... and so, I decided to rest my eyes for a bit.

I glanced at the clock on the wall and realized it was a little past half three in the morning. She was usually in by two…two-thirty. She could not have been asleep for long.

"Pet" I whispered as I slid a strap off her shoulder. The material cupping her slid down to reveal a perky breast. My fingers skated up her rib cage to lightly caressed her tiny nipples. They pebbled.

My mouth filled with venom as I yearned to taste them. Those blush pink tips could bring a man to his knees.

She moaned as I lightly pinched.

My already stiff cock filled with excess blood at the sound and I knew that I needed to have her tonight. There was no way that my hand would do the trick, not again, not tonight.

I slid out of my silky pajama bottoms and rolled atop her. It wasn't her favorite position, she liked control, she liked to be on top. Our relationship had never truly been the standard Submissive and Dominant one, Iva craved control and I rarely denied her of it.

My mates happiness is my priority.

But tonight, I needed this. I needed to flex my dormant dominant muscles, if only a little bit. She couldn't grudge me this, could she? Not in my state.

"Baby" I said as I nudged her legs apart exposing her lily-white thighs and her black lace covered pussy. "Iva" I growled.

"Hmm?" Her voice was muffled by a small chuckle. Her eyes were still closed as she rolled her hips with a slight smirk on her face. Oh, I see. I was more than willing to play her game.

"Pet?" I said as my hand slid between us to caress her. "Gods" I groaned as I found her sodden; soaked through her lacy underwear. Lace slid aside, my fingers slid in with little resistance.

Her hand covered mine as she ground against my palm. My head snapped up, hers was thrown back. Somehow I was not surprised at how quickly she'd tired of the game. She usually did not have patience for such things.

"Yes" she hissed as she forced my fingers faster and deeper. "I need you…now." she gasped the last word.

"I'm on top love" I whispered. The dominance in my voice was apparent to even me; I never used that voice with her.

She nodded frantically, eyes closed as her head slowly swayed, she growled an impatient sound as my fingers continued to fuck her.

"Now! Please give me your dick, I need you inside me, I need you filling me. Please don't deny me." She whimpered in an imploring tone, my impatient little pet.

I slid the lace more to the side, careful not to rip it as I knew well how much she detested the destruction of her clothing. She would stop us immediately to reprimand me if I did so. I couldn't afford to ruin her mood, I'd never seen he this…enthusiastic, this…this untamed.

Yes, we'd had passionate sex in the past, but this? My God, her pussy was leaking for it, she was begging for it, she was growling for it. I could only imagine how she would react when I gave it to her.

I couldn't help but to milk her good mood. I slid myself against her entrance, gathering the warm liquid that pooled there, fuck me that felt good.

An impatient whine left her throat, and I decided that the wait was over.

I couldn't help the loud triumphant groan that escaped my throat as I seated myself deeply inside her in one long stroke. She was more than ready for me.

"Hard! Deep!" She growled ferociously. "No mercy" She growled as I picked up the pace. Merlin, I wanted to savor this, I loved a good hard romp but, damn it she was being so sweet. "Oh yes, Adam! Fuck! Me!" She growled bringing her legs up to her chest.

It took a moment for the words to register.

My heart plummeted.

What?

My ears rang, and the cold chill that travelled down my spine felt as if someone cast a disillusionment over me.

My stomach clenched and I went soft. The blood was now rushing to my head, causing an erratic pounding to sound in my ears.

The lump in my throat felt ready to choke me. I couldn't breathe. Her words hit me like a blow to the gut.

What?

My brain short circuited. This could not be happening. I could not have heard what I thought I did. I could not have, it was not possible.

No.

It just couldn't be. I refused to believe it. I must have misheard.

"Adam?" She pouted, rocking against me. Her movement caused my now flaccid cock to slide out.

My teeth clenched along with my fists. My head lifted skyward, my eyes searching the roof as if there were some explanation written there, as if there was a good reason for her to have called me that. A slip of the tongue…I was surely reaching for straws.

My head fell and my eyes sought hers. They were closed. Her brows puckered in what I suspected to be expectation.

"Adam?" She asked softly as her eyes slowly opened. Shock marred her features as she recognized who was atop her.

No doubt remained.

My heart hurt. My chest grew tight. I felt like I was about to burst from my skin as my pain began to transform.

Anger burned through my veins. My hands shook, and a light sweat broke out on my skin.

I opened my mouth to say something, but decided against it as evidence of the daux* tumbled from my lips. That was not a good sign.

No, I couldn't reason with her in this state. She'd get hurt.

I slid off the bed a hasty retreat towards the door.

"Blaise" she called, scrambling off the bed behind me. "Just let me explain." She whispered as if trying to calm a wild animal.

"Please let me explain." She said as she grabbed my elbow. I was a couple steps from the door. I needed to get out, I was barely holding myself together.

"Please don't touch me." I gasped breathlessly as I shook off her hold.

"Let me explain." She pleaded.

"What's there to explain?" My voice broke. I refused to look at her. I couldn't do this, not now. I wasn't in complete control.

She was silent for a minute, my heavy breathing was all that filled the room.

"You're always working." She wined.

My head snapped around. She didn't even have the grace to look embarrassed…she looked upset. With me!

How in Salazars name was I supposed to react to that? My brain was at a loss.

"How dare you?" I whispered to her. I could feel the sneer begin to take form on my mouth.

"How dare you stand there and blame your infidelities on me? Yes, I do work, but I make time for you, I always make time for you." I was in disbelief.

"How could you do this to me? Everything you ask of me, I do it! Everything you want, I give it to you! I make time for you! I don't understand. Tell me what I've done wrong, what I've actually done wrong, because I know that I've never neglected you!" Tears filled my eyes but I refused to shed them.

My heart pained at the lack of remorse on her face.

"This conversation will not continue if you are going to be selfish." She said with a raised brow as she folded her arms across her chest.

"Sel…selfish?" I said in astonishment. "Are you serious?" Was she daft?

"Put yourself in my position! Stop thinking about yourself, your feelings aren't the only ones that matter!" She screamed at me.

"Put myself in your position?" I asked, acid leaking into my voice. "Alright, oh I know, you want me to think about sleeping in until noon every day, shopping for expensive clothing, shoes, accessories, and other bullshite that I don't need? You want me to think about never working a day in my life for a single knut, going on shopping trips, and weekend trips, and holiday trips and every bloody uncalled for trip? You want me to think about going to the salon for hours, getting drunk on the weekends, and gossiping with friends about other friends behind their backs? Should I spend my day thinking of the multitude of things I can complain about? Does that about sum it up?" I shouted back.

I couldn't believe what I'd said to her, and by the look on her face, she could not believe it either.

I'd never had an issue with taking care of her, and I always knew she had a few distasteful quirks, but she was still my mate, I still cared for her and I was willing to overlook most things.

She gasped, mouth agape, hand to her chest.

"So the truth comes out!" She said, her pointer finger raised. "Is that all you think of me?" she said as she poked my chest accusingly. "You resent me because I enjoy myself? It is not my fault that you stress yourself with all this pretentious working business. You don't need to, you have a fortune! Your mother has fucked enough old men to make sure of that!" She shouted viciously.

I barely stopped myself from grabbing her. The urge to punish my insolent little mate was almost too strong, but I'd never do it.

I promised myself that I would never be like my father. I would never lay my hands on my mate, I would never abuse her in that way.

My hands stopped mid-air and I clenched them tightly, she flinched, I closed my eyes and prayed to ever deity for patience.

"Pathetic" She spat. "You're not a real man. I need to be dominated; I can't handle your submissive ways. They sicken me." I was shocked.

"What?" I whispered.

"You heard me! Adam is a man, he would have never allowed me to talk about his mother that way. How many times have I disrespected your mother in front of you? How many times have I disrespected you in front of colleagues, friends, acquaintances? And you do NOTHING!"

"You wanted your answer, there it is. You have the money, he has the power, he has the capacity to handle me. You? You're a joke." She snorted as she waved her hand flippantly.

As if my heart could take any more.

"Get out." She said plainly.

I opened my mouth, and hesitated.

"Get. Out!" She shouted.

"I'm not leaving, this is my house." I reminded her, ashamed that my voice cracked.

"Get out, before I call the aurors!" She screamed. "Get out! Get out! Get your things and get out!"

I met her furious gaze with my hurt eyes.

What she did next, took the whole situation to another level of surreal. I thought I was baffled, thrown of kilter before, but I was in the dark as I'd clearly not seen anything yet.

I obviously did not know what she was capable of.

This had to be a twisted nightmare.

My jaw dropped as she showed me a side of her that I wish I'd never seen.

She smacked herself in the face…hard.

She doubled her fist and followed this slap up with a punch to her own nose.

She used her nails to scratch at her throat and repeated the process.

"Iva!" I growled grabbing her hand. She used the other to continue her self-inflicted assault. I grabbed the other.

"What on earth are you doing?" I asked in an incredulous tone. A bit of blood trickled from her nose, and her lower lip began to swell before my eyes.

"If I call the aurors right now, you will be arrested." She said with a self-satisfied smirk. "So I suggest you leave now."

This couldn't be real.

Hermione POV

This couldn't be real. I thought as I read Draco's response.

Granger,

Your services are no longer required.

D.M.

That response after I profusely apologized for my insensitive session via owl post…several times. I felt terrible.

I hadn't meant for my mouth to get out of control of control the way it did. I should have kept some of those comments to myself.

I overestimated his tolerance and self-esteem level and analyzed out loud.I didn't know he was that sensitive...I clearly did not know Malfoy the way that I thought I did.

Damn it.

"Bonbonche" His deeply accented voice tickled my ear as he wrapped his arms around my middle. I started.

"Jay-sus" I gasped. "Damn it Viktor, stop sneaking up on me!" I complained.

None was stealthier than him. The man moved silently…always…without magic. He was huge, and silence did not make sense.

"I am sorry my luff." He said as he spun me in his arms and planted a kiss smack on my lips.

I rolled my eyes as I tried to conceal my grin.

"I see you are not ready." He said as his eyes swept my room. I averted my eyes. I'd been meaning to talk to him about that.

"Viktor…" I sighed. He'd "asked" me to move into his house with him. I agreed after some unfair, but quite welcome coaxing on his part. I could do nothing to hide my blush at the thought.

"You live in Bulgaria and I work in England. I'd really rather not purchase two portkeys daily." I grumbled.

"I vill buy them for you. I vould just like the two of us together alvays, I cannot stand that you are not sleeping next to me each night." He sighed.

He couldn't stay here…I don't think my dad would particularly appreciate that.

I eyed the half packed bag on my bed. Ninety percent of my clothing were still in my closet.

"Okay," He said as he sat on my bed drawing me into his lap. "I don't have problem travelling by portkey. I vill find us house in England."

"You are not purchasing a house." I said as I pecked him on the lips.

"What about practice? Portkeying is not exactly cheap if you have to do it every day."

"Don't worry yourself over that. As long as we are together, I don't mind the travel." He said as he captured my lips in a tender kiss.

Our tongues tangled for a moment before I broke the kiss. He wasn't deterred. He opted to feast on my throat.

"Mmm…I need to go." I groaned. He grumbled something. "Ahhh-What?" I gasped breathlessly as his lips travelled further down.

"Just a little bit" He groaned.

"I- I have to go into the office. I need to shower and get ready." I half whined half moaned.

"I will be quick, I promise." He groaned as he freed my nipple. One warm swirl of his tongue and I was lost.

"Mmm okay…quickie" I nodded frantically.

Viktor clearly did not know the meaning of quickie.

An hour and a half later, I entered my office.

Luckily it was a Sunday, and as such, everyone else was absent. Sundays were usually a good day to drop by the office and do additional research and reading up. I was really starting to take to this job, and I was glad that I opted for this one, over the other choices.

I stretched languidly as I dropped my handbag onto my desk. I was too sated, I felt like a fat lazy cat. A girl could get used to this mate stuff.

A cuppa was on the agenda before I stated my work.

The rest room* was just down the hall, adjacent to the boss' office. I never bothered to bring my own teas as the rest room usually had quite the variety.

A muffled sob stopped me in my tracks.

The war had left me well versed in sounds of distress, I'd heard more than my fair share to be able to discern that I was not hearing things.

My wand was out without a second thought as I silently made my way to the door. My mind raced through the numerous scenarios that could greet me beyond the door.

My breath hitched once the door was unlocked, as the scene before me was not even remotely close to any that I speculated.

His head snapped up from the sound I made and I stood there, stunned. The office was a mess. Items broken, papers strewn, and the boss…his face.

It was obvious that the sobs were his own. He quickly wiped the tears from his face and cleared his throat to cover the sniffles that were obviously the result of a long cry. He hastened to right himself as shame filled his eyes.

I knew that I should look away, that I should I step out and give him time to right himself, but I was too shocked.

His eyes were puffy, and no matter how much wiping he did, it wouldn't change.

"I-I" My mouth said without my brains permission. "Are you alright? Of course you're not alright, what a stupid question." I rambled. "Should I get you some tea?" I asked, not sure what to do.

"No, thank you." He croaked.

Fuck, I was uncomfortable, I didn't know how to react, I didn't know what to do. I didn't know him well enough. Was he a sharer? Or was he a "leave me the fuck alone" type? Should I comfort him? Would he want it? For Merlins sake I didn't even know what was wrong and it would be a long day in hell before I asked.

My decision was way it is.

"Umm, I'm just going to…go" I informed him, I spun and grabbed for the handle to let myself out.

"She kicked me out." He croaked, shocking me. "I've done nothing but treat her well. I've done nothing but care for her, and she was fucking someone else…" He said matter-of-factly. "I didn't know where to go. I flued here… it seemed like the safest place. I love that woman…I don't know what I did wrong, I don't know why I'm not enough."

Fuck, a sharer. My heart clenched, I could only imagine how he felt, but that didn't take away from the fact that I was uncomfortable. I didn't know what to do.

Had it been Harry or Ron, I would have held them, stroked their hair and cried with them. Had it been Ginny, or Luna, or even Parvati for goodness sakes, I would have known what to do.

This man, this usually stoic man, I was baffled at his display of emotion. He always seemed so calm, so calculated. This show of emotion was very left field. I would never have expected him to react this way.

I expected, at the very least, a "Get out", but this?

"Oh Godric" I whispered as I slowly turned back towards him.

His head was rested on the desk, arms folded around them, back to the same position I found him in. His pained sobs resumed.

Jay-sus, my frigging bleeding heart… I could not leave him this way, my heart hurt for him. I was upset on his behalf. I knew his wife was no good, but I wished he'd realized it on less hurtful terms.

My feet were moving before I could stop myself. I tentatively rested my hand on his quaking back as I rubbed, what I hope were comforting circles there. His breath hitched for a long moment before his sobs continued and he attempted to talk through them.

"I can't believe that she would do this. I love her. Everything that she has wanted…everything that she's needed…anything she's asked of me." He cried.

My heart shattered.

"You are a good man, you don't deserve to be treated that way. Shhhhhhh." I said to him. "Don't worry about her, she doesn't deserve you." I whispered.

"Why doesn't-" his voice hitched "she love me? I just-" his cries continued.

I yelped as he dragged me onto his lap, he held me tight, buried his face into the crook of my neck and bawled.

I reciprocated the tight hold, let go of my inhibitions, and comforted him as if he was one of my dearest friends.

* Rest Room= British equivalent of Break Room

* Daux- A defensive trait that some Dominants a born with. Will be further discussed in a later chapter.

My spelling is often times British, as I am British.

A/N: I apologize for the Long wait...no excuse. I just lost interest for a while. I a writing a new chapter at the moment and will try my best to publish it this month.

Let me know what you think. As always, Keep Calm Be Positive.