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Hermione sighed, looking down at her list again. She had looked at it half a dozen times, and even double checked with Harry – thank heavens he had gotten a mobile and they could actually text now – and she had the directions right to the shop he had asked her to meet him at.
“Oh, for heavens sake!” She exclaimed, stomping her foot. She turned to go back the other direction in time to see a dog trotting into the road. She looked quickly at the lorry lumbering down the small street, realizing the driver must not see the dog, or just didn’t care. Stupid muggle London! She ran full steam for the dog, muttering a featherlight spell under her breath so she could actually move the giant thing. It’s back had to come to her waist at least!
She grabbed the dog around the middle and rolled them both, the truck narrowly missing them and even honking at her, like she should have known to avoid getting in his way! “Ow…” she muttered, rubbing along her arm. She must have landed wrong. She could fix it soon enough. She turned to the dog – can I even truly call this a dog? It must be part pony. I swear, I’ve never seen a dog so big! She tilted her head.
“Are you even a dog? You look… well, you look like a wolf…” Her voice trailed off, worrying for a split second before she realized the dog seemed tame, and even wagged his tail at her. “I must have hit my head… you can’t possibly be a wolf. Especially not in a town like this. Come to think of it… you can’t be, because we don’t HAVE wolves anymore. No collar…” She looked under his belly quickly. “Alright, boy dog.” She said softly, slowly moving her hand to the air between them. She was only slightly surprised when the dog moved his head to butt against her hand, and she breathed a little easier as she pet him. “Well… I suppose I could take you with me? At least to check you out somewhere muggles won’t question you… well… glowing with runes.” She stood slowly, brushing her clothes off and only stumbled a little. She started a little when the dog pushed against her leg, almost like he were making sure she was stable before he sat again.
“Well, hopefully you’ll just come willingly. I would like to make sure you’re okay.” She said, snapping her palm against her leg a few times as she started walking. He followed willingly, seeming to have decided she was worth the time. For now at least. She hoped it stayed long enough to get somewhere a bit more… secluded.
Thankfully, though it was a more populated town, it was built more… up, instead of spread out, so they made it to some woods before too long. She was constantly grateful that since the war, she had taken some healing courses. She quickly cast a few diagnostic spells to check him over, noticing that there was only a bit of yellow along one leg and everything else green. “Please don’t bite… I don’t know how this will feel for a dog, but it’s a simple healing spell, so it should work as intended…”
She moved back half a pace just in case, moving her wand in the precise movements she was known for. The dog huffed softly, but otherwise seemed to know she was trying to help it, and once the healing was done it even stood and circled, almost like he was showing her he was fine. She shrugged. “Well, at least you’re healed again. Not sure what else I can do for you. Besides, I have to try and find this bloody shop! Don’t suppose you know where an obscure potions shop is that shouldn’t even be in the middle of the country… why Harry couldn’t choose somewhere we both know, I’ll never know. He’s always doing this…” She started walking as she spoke, only to be bumped in the bum from the dog. “What?”
He stood behind her, wagging his tail and his tongue hanging out, seeming to be waiting for her to do something. He looked towards where he was pointing then back at her. “Oh… am I supposed to follow you then? Well… can’t do any worse that way than how I’ve been doing so far on my own…”
She shrugged, moving towards the dog again, only for him to start walking before she got to him, further seeming to solidify that he wanted her to follow. They walked for near a mile by her estimation, before she saw a small cottage right up against some trees. “Oh. Well, aren’t you a smart boy.” She said, petting him as the dog started wagging his tail again, so hard this time his whole back end wiggled. She giggled a little as he leaned into her hand as she rubbed his ear. “Oh, is that good? Wonder what it would take for that food wiggle some dogs do. Do you do that?” She asked, then gave a full laugh as he seemed to look offended. “Well, I guess that’s a no.”
She looked again at the cottage, seeing an outline in one of the window through some lacy curtains that made her think of Harry. “Guess he’s already here. I guess I am a little late by now… I’m not sure though how accepting they would be of a dog coming in. I guess this is where we go our separate ways boy.” She said, giving him one more pat before going inside.
“Hermione! There you are!” Harry said as soon as he saw her, coming to give her a quick hug. “Have much trouble finding it?” He asked, a small twinkle in his eyes like he picked it specifically to see how late she would be. Just for that look she gave his arm a small punch.
“Don’t be a twat.” She told him haughtily, looking around them. “Why here? Also, what did you want to meet about?”
“Oh, just wanted to show you this place honestly. I know it’s a bit far out here, but I’ve found some amazing stock each time, even when some of the ingredients are out of stock in pretty much any of the Diagon shops.” Harry said, moving through some of the platform shelves, showing her a few items he knew she had been looking for to try and finish some potion projects.
She went and got a small basket and grabbed all the things she needed, and a few she didn’t have need for currently but interested her and quickly went to pay, thanking Harry as they walked from the front of the cottage. She stopped in her tracks when she heard a small growl, realizing the dog had settled himself at the front stairs and was lumbering to his feet to come stand next to her. “Oh. I didn’t think you would still be here.”
“Friend of yours?” Harry asked with a chuckle, holding his hand out only to snatch it back when the dog gave a half hearted snap at him.
“He was nearly mowed down by a lorry. I merely got him out of the way. I guess he may have decided to stick with me.” She said by way of explanation.
“He looks like a wolf.”
“That’s impossible Harry, you know that. England doesn’t have wolves anymore.” She said, her swotty voice coming to the forefront.
“Maybe he’s someone’s pet and they brought him from somewhere else?” He asked, taking a small step back from Hermione as the dog pressed against her leg, almost like he were laying a claim on her.
“Well, in any case, I have to get back home. I’ve got that meeting to get ready for, and I’m running later than I had planned since you just love finding places that I can never seem to find.” She told him, leaning in for a quick hug only to pull back when the dog gave another small growl. “Oh for heavens sake.” She ruffled the fur on top of his head and gave Harry a wave before starting to walk. “I can’t exactly take you with me you know. I didn’t bring my auto.” She gave a jerk of surprise when he simply put his mouth on her hand, and raised an eyebrow. “Well… here goes nothing then…”
She was only slightly surprised when she saw him on her front doorstep after apparating. She shrugged, moving to unlock the door. “I suppose if you’re determined to be here, I’ll not stop you. I really do have a meeting to get ready for though.” She moved through the house, put down a bowl of water for him and opened the back door in case he wanted out before moving through to her room, stripping as she went.
“Let’s see… quick shower, and maybe the teal dress… black heels, minimal makeup…” She looked at the clock and grumbled under her breath about Harry and his larks again. “I don’t have time to do anything with my hair… but I definitely need a wash, so I guess a high ponytail it is.”
By the time she reached the bathroom, she was fully naked, quickly turning on the shower and not truly giving it time to fully warm before stepping in. She hissed and jumped for a few seconds before forcing herself to get to work. She had only 30 minutes til she had to leave.
She jumped a bit when she got out, having forgotten for a few minutes about the dog, only to see him sitting, waiting, at the door to the bathroom. She quickly dried, slicked herself in lotion, and threw on some knickers and a bra, then started on drying her hair. Thankfully the product she used these days kept it from being too big even with minimal work, so she put it in the ponytail she had decided on and a few swipes of mascara and lip gloss, and walked out to grab her dress and heels.
She looked around to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything she needed, putting her things in a small clutch (also extended. She just didn’t like to be without an extended back since the war…) and gave the dog a quick pat. “I’ll pick up some sort of food for you while I’m out, I suppose… it sure seems like you intend to stay. Please don’t tear anything up…. I’ll be back as soon as I can be.”
She walked out the door, quickly apparating to the ministry to do she had been practically mandated to join. “The golden trio… so tired of it.” She couldn’t say the words very loudly for fear of someone overhearing, but it just… helped to say sometimes. It gave her a little release in the tension for these functions.
She was at the function barely 30 minutes before she saw a familiar face that she had thought wouldn’t show heading towards her.
“Granger.” Malfoy nodded at her, standing with her hands behind his back next to her, looking bored and raising his brow at a few dancing couples.
She didn’t mind him as much as when they were younger. They had both grown a lot, and she had actually had a few nice conversations with him. All were work related, but still…
“Malfoy. I’m surprised to see you here. I had thought these functions were beneath you.” She said, only a little bit of sass in her voice.
He let a small smirk move his lips for a split second. “I decided to see if they had changed at all in recent years. I’m afraid to say they have not… but it would be a waste to leave only 5 minutes in.” He seemed to think for a moment before turning to her and holding a hand out. “Dance with me?” He asked, voice still rather flat, quirking his eyebrow the slightest bit.
She started, her eyes flying to his face. “Dance? Us?” She took a deep breath before throwing her shoulders back, raising her chin. “Alright. Fine. I don’t know what game you’re playing, but let’s go.” She said, her bravado – she hoped – conveying she didn’t care and that it wasn’t false after all. Damned Gryffindor courage…
He took her hand, leading her to the cleared space and pulling her close, their bodies flush to each other.
“Um… Malfoy, not that I mind, but I’m reasonably sure that a waltz does not need to be this close…” She said, trying to pull back from him, but finding herself held in place by his hand on her lower back, holding her in place.
“Come now Granger. Bring a little spice to the event. They’re always so boring.” He smirked at her again, then leaned close to speak into her ear. “Let’s stir things up a bit… what do you say? Want to scandalize the old purebloods with me…?”
She frowned at him, leaning back as far as she could. “What, it’s not scandalous enough that you’re dancing with a mudblood?”
She nearly tripped as he stopped dead in his tracks, a small growl working it’s way up his throat as he jerked her body against his again.
“Do NOT say that… not about yourself. Not around me.” He said roughly, his breath against her lips.
She stilled, her breath catching. “What… YOU are the one who first called me that. Why do you think you have any right to tell me what I can and can’t do anyways?” She asked, suddenly fuming… and also rather turned on. What? No I’m not! Stop it!
He looked around quickly before grabbing her hand and pulling her over to an alcove, crowding her in against a wall with his body, pressing against her so close that she felt her breath stop in her chest again.
“Please… I have regretted that for years. Don’t say that about yourself now. Don’t.” He said, his voice soft and deep, breathing roughly.
Hermione briefly realized that the scent coming from him was remarkably familiar… she couldn’t place it, but she knew it. She just didn’t know how.
“Hermione…” He whispered, his eyes jumping back and forth between her own, then falling down to her lips briefly.
“Draco… please… don’t.” She said, putting her hand on his chest. She was conflicted, but knew she needed to have a moment of peace.
He stood against her for just another moment before stepping back, bowing slightly and cleared his throat. “Apologies Granger. I didn’t mean to… make you uncomfortable. Excuse me.” He said, walking away before she had a chance to even say anything else.
Hermione stood for a moment, just trying to figure out what had just happened. She watched as Malfoy – Draco… - disappeared from the room. Apparently he was done with the function. She couldn’t even blame him. She was definitely done. She went to the ladies before heading back out. She didn’t even care that she had barely made it an hour total here. She was done. She walked to the apparation point and quickly turned, rushing in to her small house… to find it already occupied.
“Ronald. What are you doing here?” She asked, stopping in her tracks. Things had been… difficult, since she broke it off. It had been nearly a year, but she suspected his pride had been hurt more than she had thought it would be before moving forward with it. He had tried for a while to make her jealous, then when he realized that wasn’t working, he just made things… uncomfortable.
“What the hell Hermione? Him? You really went with him?” He didn’t even bother saying hello before starting to rage at her this time.
“What, what are you talking about?” She was truly confused. She hadn’t gone with anyone. Sure, she had danced, but just the one song with… “Malfoy? So we danced. I went alone, you dolt.” She turned to walk from him only for him to grab her upper arm, spinning her back around. She had never seen him so angry…
She didn’t even have time to finish the thought before a vicious snarl ripped through the room, both of them turning to look at the dog, his teeth bared, hackles raised, advancing slowly on Ron.
“Ronald… let me go. You need to leave. I don’t know how…” She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “You came in the door I left open for the dog. There’s a reason I locked you from my floo. Because I don’t want you here. Take the hint, Ronald. Leave. Before my new friend does something you won’t like… or before I do.” She threatened, pulling again on her arm. He finally released her, backing away enough that the dog moved between them.
Ron sneered at her. “Well… guess you have 2 dogs one. One just walks on 2 legs.” He turned and left angrily, and as soon as he was gone she flicked her wrist and the door slammed shut behind him. She walked on shaky legs to her bed and sank onto the edge, realizing with surprise that the dog had followed her. She leaned forward and hugged him around his neck, holding him as she struggled to hold herself together.
Hermione sighed and stood, stripping off her dress and heels, removing her bra and throwing on one of her oldest tshirts, needing the comfort of it before climbing in to bed. The dog moved and lay against her back, warming her and laying between her and the door to her living area. “I should really think of some sort of name for you, instead of just calling you the dog, if you intent to stick around…” She mumbled, exhausted suddenly. She allowed a few tears to escape, sniffling softly before sleep finally stole over her.
Hermione groaned, not ready to wake up but knowing that she had too much to do, even if it was a Saturday morning… wait…
She gasped, sitting up and turning to find…
“What the bloody fuck?!” She yelled, screeching somewhat softly as she was pulling back down to her bed by the arm around her waist.
“Too early Granger… shh…” Malfoy mumbled, in only his pants.
“Where are your clothes?!” She exclaimed, trying – and failing – to extricate herself from his hold.
“Never liked how they feel when shifting, so I wear just my pants. Why are you even awake so early love?” He asked, and she stopped breathing entirely. Love? She couldn’t help but wonder when they had gotten friendly enough for any kind of endearments, but that thought quickly took up the back burner in her mind when she remembered the situation she found herself in.
“Wait… you’re the dog?!” She simply couldn’t believe it. “You watched me shower!” She yelled as soon as the thought entered her head, turning to see his full smirk. She shook her head, trying to get back on topic. "What do you mean, shifting?"
“Best part of my year so far. Definitely an O. If you had closed the door before the actual shower it would have been only an E, but lucky for me…” He sighed. "After the war... I needed something that was just mine. So, since I was locked away in practical solitude, I decided to use it for this... I didn't register though." He said, finally opening his silvery eyes and staring at her.
She felt like he was staring into her soul. “Why? Why are you even here? Why… until last night, I thought you hated me still!” She told him, though she hadn’t quite meant to let that much slip.
His brow furrowed, head tilting. “I’ve never hated you.” He said simply, and when she just stared at him in disbelief, he expounded on it. “I hated that I could never beat you… I was expected to beat everyone with my grades. Father… he always told me that the ‘Malfoy bloodline is the best, one of THE most pure. You must show that in your schooling and pursuits’. I never once hated you though. Merely…” He stopped, seeming to weigh if he should even tell her the rest before continuing softly. “I hated myself for how much I wanted you. Wanted to be seen by you, to have you for myself. That I was never… good enough for you.” He finished so softly she nearly didn’t hear him.
“Draco…” She whispered back, seeming to realize belatedly what she had done. She didn’t correct herself though. Oddly enough, she had found herself wanting him throughout the years at random times. She always wrote it off as a flight of fancy. She was seeing something that wasn’t there, wasn’t real. Could never be… now though? Maybe it could be…
Hermione leaned down slowly, watching as Draco seemed to realize what she was about to do, his eyes going dark, his pupils blown wide.
“Hermione…” He breathed out, raising himself up a bit on his elbows to meet her, but making her move the last bit towards him, like he wanted to be sure that she wasn’t going to regret this.
As her lips touched his, Hermione felt like their lips had met with a spark of static, and it was traveling throughout her body. She pressed closer against him, turning her head slightly to get a better angle, her lips opening slightly. She pulled his bottom lip into her mouth, her stomach clenching when she heard his groan, feeling his hand wrap in her hair and pull her closer. She whimpered at the slight tug, faltering for a split second. He used that time to switch their positions though, rolling with her til she was underneath him, pulling and biting on her lips, one hand sweeping down her side to grip her hip.
“Hermione, love… tell me you don’t want this. To stop… anything…” He spoke against her neck, sucking lightly on the skin under her ear, moaning when she tilted her head, her hips jerking up against his.
“Draco…” She keened, one hand pulling on his hair, the other wrapping around his waist and pulling him against her closer, spreading her legs so he rested in the cradle she made. “Don’t stop… please… don’t…”
He groaned again before pulling her shirt up and throwing it across the room, moving down her body, sucking on her skin. When he reached her nipple and pulled it into his mouth, Hermione arched, pressing closer to him. “Draco, please!” She whimpered, moving her hips against him. She could feel his erection pressing into her, still hidden away behind his pants. She reached down, grasping at the band and pushing, but she couldn’t get them very far with how he held her down.
He finally did as she so obviously wanted and removed his pants and her knickers, laying flush against her as he sucked again on her neck, biting her earlobe. She jerked against him, wrapping one leg around his hip.
Hermione couldn’t believe how much she wanted him. She felt like she needed him, she could barely breathe for wanting him. She had never admitted her darkest dreams, the ones she pretended she didn’t dream. She knew the reason she had never truly settled in with Ron. He wasn’t the one she had wanted for so long. It was the reason why every time Draco did something she thought of as ‘wrong’ it had hurt so much. It seemed one more reason they would never work. Now though? Hermione wasn’t sure she cared.
Draco sat up, resting his bum on his ankles, pulling her hips til he could slide inside of her, sliding in slowly to give her time to adjust, pulling her upper body flush with his again, so she sat on his thighs one he was fully seated in her.
“Cerce Hermione… you feel-” He grunted, jerking his hips up a bit to nudge closer to her, reaching between them to circle her clit. “You feel so much better than I ever imagined. I need you to come for me love… I don’t think I’m going to last long. You feel too good.” He said, giving short thrusts up into her body, his other hand not currently occupied going again to her hip to hold her to him.
“Draco… I’m close. Please.” She whined, gripping his hair, before going to his shoulders, then finally to his face to pull him to her, kissing him deeply again. His fingers moved faster on her clit and she felt herself falling…
“Draco!” She screamed, her head falling back as she spasmed around him, crying out again a moment later when he followed her over the edge, feeling his spend warming her insides. She imagined – one day, not now – a little silver hair boy, maybe with her curls…
When she finally felt herself land, gasping out her breaths, she came to awareness slowly, of Draco licking her cheeks, nuzzling in to her. She realized she had been crying, and he was licking away her tears.
“Love… give me ten minutes. I think we need to try again… that couldn’t have possibly been as good as I feel it was.” Draco said, a small drawl in his voice as he lowered them both to lie down next to each other on the bed. “You do realize though, if it really was as good as I remember it being, I’ll never be able to let you go.”
Hermione smiled softly at him. “Somehow… I feel the same.”