I'm sorry that I disappeared. Real life has been a doozy and I let my fanfictions fall to the way side. You can find story notes and some images I had used for inspiration for the costumes by checking out this story at my ao3 account under y3llowdaisi3s. I thank any and all of you for continuing to read, add to alerts or favorites, and commenting. You all are amazing and why I keep coming back to fandom no matter what. Thanks, and I hope you enjoy this next installment.

Hermione didn't really feel up for celebrating. She felt incomplete, like a hole was in her heart. She would catch herself readying to cry and would mentally shake sense into herself. It had been a week. She had only known it was Draco for a day. A hole in her heart? Who was she? Merope Gaunt?

It had been more than eighteen hours, that was for sure, so the potion was clear out of her system. She had drank as much water as she could in attempt to flush it out quicker, but now girly drink after girly drink was pushed in front of her.

She was halfway through her third.

They had been there for maybe an hour.

"Are you okay?" Tracey questioned, eyeing the two empty glasses in front of the witch.

"Just dandy," Hermione replied, swatting her away with her hand. Couldn't she be left alone?

"Sure?" her co-worker asked, taking the empty seat on her right.

So much for being alone, she rolled her eyes, happy to note that Tracey was trying to flag down a waitress.

When Tracey turned back to her possibly question her, Hermione beat her to the punch. "How was your case?"

"Oh!" Tracey clapped, much to Hermione's amusement. "The case was thrown out of court for being ridiculous. Which we all knew would happen."

Both girls scoffed.

"The 'reconnaissance mission'," she used her fingers to air quote, "was a success in that they found several pure-blood women also working at the club."

"Really?"

"Yup," Tracey popped her lips on the P.

They were quiet for a few minutes, each in their own thoughts when the seat to her left was pulled away from the table. Hermione turned to see the person she least wanted to see make himself comfortable next to her. "Tracey, Theo is looking for you," he drawled.

Tracey's cheeks reddened but she didn't let it stop her. She hugged Hermione and pushed through the crowd.

"Hermione." He placed a tumbler of what she believed to be Firewhiskey in front of him. He rolled a finger around the brim, looking her in the eye.

"Draco," she sipped the remainder of her watered down fruity drink, avoiding his eyes.

"I'm sorry," he said, no longer rolling a finger, but placing his hand atop hers.

She stared at where their hands touched. He felt the tingle go up her arm.

"I shouldn't have done what I did in the courtroom today. Not only was it unprofessional, but after the revelations you had, it was uncalled for."

She felt his hand brush away the tear that she couldn't hold back. When another tear fell, and a sob broke from her, he pulled her into a hug. She cried into his shoulder, clenching at his jumper, as if his very presence was the only thing keeping her together.

"Shh," he soothed, running his hands up and down her back. "Everything will be alright."

"But, I wanted to be with you," she cried.

"I want to be with you too," he said, pushing her away just enough that he could rest his forehead on hers. She could see his sincerity and she was again mesmerized by the blue specks in his grey eyes.

"You want a different kind of relationship, Draco," she sighed, letting go and trying to sit as far away from him as she could.

"I'll try for you, Hermione. We went on that date last month and other than the Astoria debacle, nothing would have stopped me from pursuing you further."

"I just don't know."

His rebuttal was cut off when several of their co-workers joined them at the table, forcing her to sit closer to him.

"Thanks, Draco," Theo raised his drink in a toast, picking up on the melancholy mood that they had interrupted.

Hermione tried to smile for them, she didn't want to bring them down. Yet, she knew her eyes were a little red-rimmed. She weakly smiled at the others, but kept her eyes on her clasped hands on the table.

"You okay?" Tracey whispered from her side.

Hermione looked up at her and shook her head.

"What's wrong?"

She shook her head again, not really wanting to say anything. Deep down, she wanted to give Draco a try, but could she do it?

"So when you two going to finally go out?"

Leave it to Blaise to break the tension like that.

"What?" She and Draco gaped together.

"We were all thinking it. Been thinking it for months. Seriously thought you two would have been well on your way on a relationship by now if not for that stupid Astoria incident last month. Lost me a good bag of Galleons, you two did. But it's alright, I got Malcolm back for it, ruining all his chances with Miss Allaway until this week." Blaise's smile looked evil, the amount of glee he was exuding was something only a man of mischief could achieve.

"What are you talking about?" Draco demanded.

"We've placed bets on you two," Theo replied, without a care for the dark cloud hovering over his friend.

"You did what?" Hermione shouted, slamming her hands on the table. That was uncalled for. First a potion affects her libido and now her co-workers were playing with her love life? What was next? The Ministry demand she get married and have kids?

"The sexual tension between you two is so thick, it rivals the Weasel's intelligence."

Draco scoffed and Hermione scowled at Blaise. That was one of her best friends. She turned and glared at Draco before smacking him in the arm. "That's my best friend!"

Draco raised his hands in front of him in a placating way, showing he surrendered.

"Yeah, if you're going to date her, you can't go make fun of her friends, no wonder you two still haven't hooked up."

The pair looked at Theo and then stared at the table, both their cheeks pink.

"By Circe, you've hooked up already?" Tracey's eyes went wide, drawing the attention of the other two males at the table.

"And you decided not to anymore?" Blaise asked, incredulously, shaking his head in disbelief.

"It's complicated," they both mumbled.

Everyone at the table snorted.

"It's always complicated. Just go fuck it out."

"Must you always be so crude, Blaise?" Theo scolded the man, but went back to his drink, placing one of his arms around Tracey's shoulder.

Hermione eyed the action and wondered if that was something Draco would do with her. Apparently Malcolm's machinations had ruined their first date a month ago. Prior to Astoria causing a scene, she and Draco were having a lively conversation and she knew she wanted to take him back to her place.

She shyly glanced at him in the corner of her eye. Could they go back to that?

"Draco, take the girl out. Both of you, go," Blaise shooed them with his hands. "Skedaddle!"

"Do people even say that anymore?" Hermione mused while Draco helped her out of her seat. She took a deep breath, she could do this. Maybe there could be something for them.

The only place that they thought they could be alone to talk and have drinks was either Draco's or Hermione's place, so she took him back to her's.

"Make yourself at home," she gestured with her arm, after letting him into her flat. She walked down the hall to change into a comfortable pair of pajamas - sweats and a tank top. When she walked back outside, she found the man in her study, eyeing the bulletin board that she had worked on for the past week.

"You sure were busy," he chuckled.

"Honestly, it drove me mad." She pulled him by the arm out of her study, her cheeks tinged scarlett, back towards the living room.

"Wine?"

"Sure," he replied, seating himself on a couch.

Hermione returned with two glasses and a bottle. She sat next to him, with a good distance between them, and filled a glass for him before preparing one for herself.

"So," he started.

"So..."

"This is bloody awkward," Draco looked at her then back at his glass.

Hermione sipped at her drink but nodded nonetheless. It was rather awkward. How is that he could have her begging for his cock and have no problem, but sitting on the couch trying to have a simple conversation was difficult?

"You didn't know it was me that whole time?" He finally asked, gulping at his wine.

"I didn't. You were always at the top of my list, but I had to eliminate everyone to be sure. It wasn't something I could just approach anyone with, you know."

"Was that why you ended up at Smitten Kitten on Thursday?" He scooted closer to her.

"Mhmm, I was desperate. I needed answers and then I ran into you and Theo. It all worked out in the end, I say."

"I'm sorry if you think I took advantage of you. I never meant to," he mumbled, placing his now empty glass on the coffee table in front of her.

Hermione bit her lip, put her nearly empty glass next to his, and scooted on the couch so that she was resting her head on his shoulder. Draco wrapped his arm around her, and let her nestle into the crook of his arm.

"Did you know it was me?"

"Honest? I didn't know for sure until Monday and you were blocking the soap. You have a one-of-a-kind arse, Granger. You should be proud."

"Prick!" She smacked him on the chest, but smiled nonetheless. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I wasn't sure if it was something you wanted. I was pretty rough, you know. And that wasn't how I imagined our first time together to be."

"You've imagined our first time together?" She asked, pulling back so she could see his flushed face. She smiled.

"Yeah. Our date was going so well that one time, I was just thinking of how far you would let me go and what I would do if you let me."

"That's sweet," she cooed before settling back into her spot. "Do you prefer it rough like the past two times? Or you want more, like possessing me?" She pressed her face into his chest, a little afraid of his answer.

"Hermione, I like you, I want to be with you and I'll take what I can get. Yes, I like it rough, and yes, considering you my possession turns me on beyond anything, but in order for me to even have that, you have to be happy. And that's what's most important." He tilted her chin so that she wasn't hiding, and kissed her forehead.

"Honest?"

"Honest."

"Draco," Hermione meekly stated.

"Yeah?"

"Will you make love to me?"

She watched as Draco took a deep breath and she braced herself for the rejection, for him to push her off him so he could leave, but instead, he pulled her into his lap and kissed her deeply.

He wrapped one arm around her waist, and let his other hand bury into her hair. Hermione wrapped her legs around him, grinding into the very thick erection she could feel through his pants. Draco held her tightly and lifted them off the couch, making Hermione giggle.

She was going to have sex again. With Draco Malfoy. No spanking involved.

As he walked them down the hallway, he would stop every few steps and press her against the wall, rub himself against her centre, then continue on his way. Hermione was on edge. She had been on edge since that morning. She lavished his neck, leaving her mark on him as they continued to the bedroom.

He dropped her on the bed and began to undress. Hermione eyed him like he was steak. This boy was yummy personified. His pale skin, toned muscle frame, and that cock was drool worthy. She closed her mouth to keep any from getting out, but she did pull off her blazer and singlet.

"Slytherin Green?"

"That's not all," she smirked.

"Oh?"

She shook her head, and helped him slip off her skirt. She planted her feet flat on her bed and raised her hips to let him pull it down her lithe legs.

"Oh," he said quietly.

She shyly looked up at him, not really afraid because she did know she was hot, and she knew he had liked her their last two times, but still a little apprehensive of him seeing her in her lingerie set. The last two times weren't really the brightest of places, but the lust in his eyes rivaled that very morning.

She went to roll a stocking off when his hand snatched her arm away. "Leave those on."

"Hey, no telling me what to do," Hermione pouted.

Draco crawled above her, kissing random points of her exposed skin. "I'm sorry." He was above her, nestled between her legs. "You're just so, I don't have any words. And the stockings just add to it." He nuzzled into her neck, licked her jaw, then finally, finally, nibbled on her lips. She slipped her tongue into his mouth and he didn't try to take control. He followed her moves, repeating things when she moaned, grinding into her.

She hadn't dry humped someone in years, and she didn't want to think back on that. She used her toes to pull down his boxers, shocking him with her cold feet.

"Cold," he chuckled, but unhooked her bra in the process. He laved each breast with plenty of attention before sliding her knickers down her legs. He kissed her calf, her knee, the inside of her left thigh, and let his breath graze her cunt.

She wanted that, but she needed something else first. "Later," she panted, pulling him up by his hair.

"Impatient, love?" he chuckled, but kissed her deeply once more.

"Mhmm," she moaned, making to grab his cock and guide him into her. He let her, much to her happiness, and they both groaned with his first thrust.

She panted with each of his thrusts, it felt good, but not anything like it once was. She felt connected to him in a different level. Their lips never left the skin of the other. Mouths. Necks. Shoulders. It was all in the open, and it was definitely something different.

"Oh," she moaned a final time when she reached climax. It was not too long afterwards that he followed her, falling to her side and pulling her in close so that her back was pressed to his front. He nibbled on her shoulder and Hermione smiled. Draco Malfoy liked to cuddle.

She giggled.

"What's so funny?" He asked, peering over her shoulder, kissing her cheek before retreating back to the pillow.

"You. Unexpected."

"Huh?"

"Cuddle."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

The two laid there like that, holding each other. Hermione contemplated what had just happened while rubbing her hands along the arms holding her.

"Draco?"

"Mhmm?" He sounded sleepy and Hermione felt bad for waking him, but she really wanted to get this off her chest.

"Do you still have that choker?"

He coughed before answering, "Yeah, it's in one of my pockets."

"What would you say if I said I'd want to wear it, but only abide by the stipulations in the bedroom?" She asked, rolling over so that she faced him. She pressed her fingers on his creased brow, lightly kissing his jaw, hoping to entice him into agreeing. Maybe all of the previous week was the byproduct of a potion, but she knew she enjoyed it. And while what she and Draco just shared was special, she wasn't someone to not want to liven things up often.

"I can live with that."

"Good," she stated before pushing him onto his back and straddling him.