Chapter 10

Thank you so much for everyone who posted a review and for everyone following! It means so much! :)

A sweet, heartwarming chapter! Light smut alert! :)

I wanted to expand a bit on Hermione's parents and since not much information was available, I took the liberty of using my late fathers warm and friendly personality to describe Mr Granger! :) :)

Few references to my favourite football club and old Tv shows! ;)

Please read and review. I love reading reviews because it helps motivate my writing while other reviews help me become a better writer.

Please follow and continue reading the story when updated, it's pretty cool! :)

Enjoy Chapter Ten!

Let me know your thoughts so far! Trust me, it helps loads! :) Stay safe beautiful people!

HAPPY READING! :)

**************************

Hermione sat at the kitchen island, one hand around a steaming cup of tea.

The other nervously tapping the glossy counter.

Even at The Leaky Cauldron, the press had been unbearable.

They had hounded her until a disgruntled Ginny told them to sod off and leave them the fuck alone.

Here she was, yet again seeking sanctuary in Draco's glossy kitchen, while the press pitched tents around hers.

She frowned at the cup of tea, perhaps something stronger was the right answer.

She sighed; it was to be expected but to this extent?

They were a newsworthy couple, Hermione grudgingly admitted.

The whole wedding disaster was the cherry on top of a very juicy story and Hermione couldn't help but wonder, if the whole Ron fucking Lavender and her running out of the wedding, would be blamed on her?

In all fairness, she had moved on fairly quickly and traded up, while Ron walked about heartbroken and unshaven, like a freaking zombie.

According to Ginny, he was not doing well.

Hermione still cared for Ron, of course, she did!

But the news of her with Draco, mainly because it was Malfoy had ripped him apart.

It was the story, you loved to hate!

One of the Golden Trio was dating ex Death Eater, school rival and overall Slytherin prat!

Who just happened to be the rich, utterly irresistible and most eligible bachelor of the Wizarding World.

Hermione could practically hear women weeping across England.

The worst part was they all wanted to know their story, but how exactly would they even begin to explain their tremulous relationship?

It would mean bringing up everything from their days together at Hogwarts and unnecessary lives would get hurt in the process.

They maintained an ironclad, "No Comment policy."

Draco dropped a protective kiss to her forehead and asked, "How was your day?"

He loosened his tie and tossed it carelessly on the counter.

Fuck he was tired!

Hermione gave it some serious thought and searched for the perfect word, "It was fucked up babe, how was yours?"

She smiled sweetly, before rolling her eyes and taking a sip of the tea.

She grimaced, "Yuck, that's revolting."

He laughed softly from behind the bar as he expertly mixed drinks.

Draco told her flatly, holding out a clear white concoction, "I love it when you cuss, but yeah, it was the same, if not worse."

She gladly accepted and took a long sip.

Damn! The ice felt so gratifying.

Scooping one out, she pressed it to her lips, gently sucking on the melting ice.

The melted water dribbled down the corner of her mouth and along her chin, before falling onto the clear counter.

Taking a swig of his drink, Draco watched Hermione intently.

He was tired, but she was turning him on.

Moving closer, he kissed the corner of her mouth, where the melted water ran down her chin.

Her lips felt cool against his.

She turned her head and kissed him full on the mouth, deepening the kiss and bringing him closer to her body.

It had been a long fucking day and they needed to find that deep sensuous satisfaction in each other.

Hermione undid the buttons of her shirt, her body trembled as Draco peppered kisses along her neck, stopping to suck at the base of her throat.

Her fingers fumbled and Draco groaned, he ripped open her shirt and put his hands around her waist pulling her close to him, with a flick of his wrist her bra lay discarded on the floor.

He suckled the valley that led to her soft mounds.

Cupping both of them he flicked his tongue across the hardening rosy buds.

"I really liked that shirt, Draco," Hermione whispered in-between kisses.

"I'll fix it after, I want to fuck you right now," he demanded, against her breast.

At the rate they were going, no way in hell were they making it to the bedroom.

His shirt hung loosely on his broad shoulders, she pushed it off and it fell to the ground in a crumpled mess.

Draco backed Hermione towards the living room couch, her fingers traced along his neck and the other pressed up against his toned physique.

The feel of him made her whimper into his mouth.

He trailed airy kisses, barely touching her skin, down her neck, past her breasts and stomach, stopping only to suck on the delicate flesh below her navel and just like that he was kneeling before her.

Draco urgently undid her buttons and pulled down her pants along with the panty she wore. It was simple, made for comfort.

Her hold on his hair tightened, without hesitation, he ran his finger along her opening, she was wet and so fuckable.

His erection strained against his trousers, rock hard and throbbing.

Hermione parted her thighs, his hands went around her and long fingers grasped her buttocks firmly.

A small gasp escaped her lips.

Leaning forward he pressed his lips to her soaking wetness.

The pleasure was immediate, Hermione lost her balance and fell backwards onto the couch.

There was no time to recover, the tip of his tongue was already moving expertly within her folds, sucking on her swollen bud.

Hermione groaned in unbridled abandonment.

Her legs over his shoulders, he worked his tongue inside with skilled precision.

The intensity was too much to bear, her fingers entwined themselves tightly in his hair.

Her pedicured toes rested on his shoulder, the red colour nail polish a brilliant contrast against his pale skin.

He held her thigh firmly, fingers digging into her flesh.

Draco moved his tongue to Hermione's dripping entrance and pushed the tip of his tongue inside.

Her breathing hitched.

Hermione didn't know what hit her, she jerked and her orgasm tore through her body, wave after wave pulsated through her body and as she rode the blissful release, Draco pushed his cock in.

Her throbbing clit raptured again around his shaft.

He loved the taste of her and she loved the feel of him.

"Draco," she moaned his name, leaning back against the couch.

She welcomed the hard thrusts, he picked up the pace to an alarming rate as his balls screamed for release.

He groaned a deeply satisfying sound as his seed filled her up.

Completely spent, he collapsed on top of her and she held him close.

They stayed entwined in each other's arms, willing their heart rate to return to its normal state.

Reluctantly, Draco pushed himself off her, "That was..." he couldn't find the word for it.

Amazing? Great? Amazingly, fucking great? No, there was no word to do it justice.

He kissed her forehead and walked stark naked into his room.

Hermione watched him go, admiring the way his firm muscles rippled as he walked. Gathering her discarded and torn clothes, she headed for the shower.

Her legs felt like fucking mush. She stood under the cool water, enjoying it with erotic pleasure.

Later that night, Hermione hunched over her notes in deep thought, when she realized that Draco had been quiet for nearly an hour, it was unsettling.

Brushing her papers aside, she went to check on him.

He had fallen asleep, lying completely naked on the bed in an awkward position.

Hermione's heart melted at the sight, she gently sat next to him and coaxed him awake. He seemed dead to the world, but his eyes fluttered open at her touch and he sat up.

"Was I asleep for long?" he asked, yawning.

"For about forty-five minutes," she told him, looking adoringly into his face.

"Did you have dinner?" He asked sleepily.

"No, I was finishing some work," she got up and pulled him with her.

"Shower quickly, and let's eat. I'm practically starving," she instructed impatiently.

He grabbed her wrist and tried to drag her into the shower, "Oh no, I'm going to get dinner started!"

Hermione wriggled out his grasp and sprinted to the kitchen.

She was using magic to cook, too tired to resort to any bloody Muggle techniques. B

y the time Draco walked in towelling his hair, the kitchen smelt amazing.

"It smells good, but is it edible?" He teased, hugging her from behind and placing a quick kiss on her neck.

He smelt of aftershave and Hermione leaned into the smell.

"Don't be a prick, just try it," Hermione scolded, serving him a plate of roasted chicken, mash potatoes, buttered vegetables, and dinner rolls.

Draco looked at his plate and back at her, "Impressive, Granger."

"Why thank you, Malfoy," she added sarcastically, serving herself.

It dawned on her that he said his day was worse than hers.

"You said your day was worse, how so?" Hermione was quite curious.

Draco laughed, "That was before we fucked Granger," How eloquently put.

She shoved him playfully, "Tell me, please."

"Astoria paid me a visit," he replied, the frustration building up.

"What did she want?" Hermione was quick to ask, she didn't bother to hide the annoyance in her voice.

Draco sat back, relaxed and said without hesitation, "Astoria has her heart set on marrying me."

The woman was crazy, he felt nothing for her.

Hermione stared at him wide-eyed, "Merlin, has she not given up on that dream yet?"

It had been common knowledge at Hogwarts.

He was thoughtful, before replying, "It's been drummed into her by her parents and my father, even I believed it for a while."

It was the truth; his father had planned out his life and Draco blindly followed the lunatic in his ignorance and youthful age.

There was a time he idolized his father.

Hermione shifted in her seat nervously and informed her voice cracking, "I don't know what to say. I don't want to come in-between anything."

She didn't want to lose him.

Draco closed the distance between them and held her close, "There's nothing for you to say, I was never going to marry her."

It had nothing to do with their relationship, he never planned on carrying forward on his father's crazy promise.

Hermione was relieved and her face relaxed, she returned his kiss passionately holding onto him.

The last thing she wanted was to be some fucking third wheel, who ended up stealing another woman's man.

He got up to open a bottle of red wine, poured her glass and kissed her forehead.

They were falling into a pattern around each other. Draco savoured it and Hermione loved it.

They discussed the Death Eater issue at the Ministry and alchemy advancements.

She knew he had a passion for alchemy and dabbled in it in his free time.

Hermione found it fascinating.

Draco froze when Hermione told him about Ron's little visit.

"He asked me about you, and I told him the truth, he didn't take it very well," she told him truthfully.

Ron had been distraught and inconsolable.

"My heart bleeds for the fucking prat," he added menacingly while helping her clean the dishes.

Hermione knew there was no love lost between the two men, Draco grudgingly at least respected Harry and even liked Ginny, but Ron would always remain the Weasel Shit.

"What did Saint Potter say?" Draco was curious at what the great Mr Potter thought about his best friend dating him.

Hermione shrugged, "I didn't get to see Harry, I was so busy keeping the press away and catching up on work, besides, Harry has far more important things to worry about now, than who I'm dating."

She had to speak with Harry and made a mental note to do it tomorrow, no matter what the distractions.

And they were back to discussing the details of the ongoing investigation.

Even Draco's sources were elusive, but he would find them, he had his ways and ample connections to get shit done.

He sat alone in bed, busy with the laptop, replying to overseas suppliers and a few buyers.

Draco dabbled in a lot of things, but his bread and butter was engineering, real estate and his Club, besides the Malfoy Estate and family business.

He closed his laptop and wondered where Hermione was, he had gotten used to sleeping with her, it kept the nightmares away.

For some reason, her presence ensured a nightmare less sleep for him.

Hermione looked up as he approached, her glasses perched on the edge of her nose, her hair in a messy bun, papers and books across her bed.

He frowned and made a mental note to buy her a desk.

"Come to bed, Granger," It was a genuine request.

She smiled at her boyfriend, the word was still new and felt weird to use.

She blew him a kiss, "I'm just finishing, I'll come in a bit."

Unlike Ron, who would have fussed and sat with her trying to nibble at her neck, Draco nodded and walked out of the room leaving her in peace to finish her work.

Her eyes felt heavy with sleepiness, and she almost collapsed on top of her papers.

It was time to call it a night.

Using her wand to switch off the lights, Hermione padded across to Draco's room.

He was fast asleep; she slid back the covers and snuggled against his back and into his warmth.

It had been nearly a week since she had reentered the world after her very public and utterly humiliating wedding disaster.

Hermione sat across from Draco, while he read a book on alchemy and she read a juicy Muggle novel.

Looking over the book at him, she said, "I need to visit my parents Draco."

She added in concern, "They must be so worried, I only sent them text messages saying I was safe and needed time."

She had purposely stayed away to shield them from the media storm they faced.

Eyes firmly on the book, Draco suggested, "Why don't you spend the weekend with them?"

Hermione gave it a thought, it would be nice to spend the weekend with her parents, "That's a great idea, babe."

"I'm full of bloody surprises," Draco joked, looking up momentarily.

After work on Friday, Hermione brought her stuff over to Draco's and decided she would apparate from his place to her parents.

It would give her the chance to kiss him goodbye.

She intended to greet him, but was instead greeted by a dark flat, he wasn't home yet.

Debating whether to stay or leave, Hermione stalked around the apartment when he appeared. She felt relieved and hurried up to him.

Draco eyed her bags, "How long are you going for?" he questioned her curiously.

Hermione stuck out her tongue, "It's getting late, I need to go."

She kissed him softly, "I'll call you later?"

He frowned, grudgingly nodded, and kissed her forehead.

Hermione smiled and apparated straight into her parent's backyard.

The smell of roses and orchids surrounded her and one of her mothers rose bushes got caught on her coat.

She gingerly removed it, while her mother came towards her.

They sat around the small table in their modest kitchen with cups of tea and biscuits.

Her mother hugged her tight, "My darling, we've been worried sick about you."

Her father came from behind and took a seat.

He took a sip and asked sternly, "Why didn't you come home?"

She broke free from their embrace, "I needed a place where Ron wouldn't bother me."

Her father's face twisted in anger, "Don't mention that idiot in this house."

Hermione gently touched her father's hand, "Let the past die, dad, he's still my friend,"

Richard shook his head angrily, "What he did was inexcusable."

Hermione sighed, "I know dad, but everything happens for a reason."

Julia asked hopefully, "Are you staying the night darling?"

Hermione smiled brightly, "Yes I am, it'll be nice to get away from the Wizarding world for a bit."

She explained the situation best she could, there was not much to explain really, just that her relationship with Ron was in the past and Draco was her future.

She hadn't gotten around to mentioning her knight in shining armour as yet.

Argh, so much pressure.

They had met him briefly during their Hogwarts years when he stopped by for Christmas unexpectedly and unannounced.

McGonagall had given him, them a list of urgent activities to plan and then insisted Draco visit her at home to hand over the list since it was the school holidays.

He had turned up at her door, looking like an angel covered in snow and she had been too shocked for words.

Draco being the enthralling man he was, had charmed her parents and ended up staying for dinner.

She recalled, a steamy make-out session in the garden before he left.

She sighed and came back to the crushing reality of the present.

"There's something else," Hermione started, reluctantly and slowly.

Her palms felt sweaty, she pulled her sweater down to cover them.

Her parents exchanged looks; they were anxious to know what it was but also weary of what else could go wrong.

They hoped for the best and concentrated on their daughter talking.

Hermione avoided the looks of concern they shoot her way and asked nervously, "Do you remember Draco?"

Her parents listened intently.

She confessed quickly before her nerves got the better of her."We're together. I stayed with him to get away from everything and we clicked,"

It was the truth she supposed.

Julia smiled knowingly, "Just clicked? You have liked that boy since school."

Trust her mother to call her out.

Hermione blushed, "No, I...," she tried to convince her mother but in vain.

Richard raised a brow, "Which boy is Draco then? Have we met him?"

His face was scrunched up in concentration trying to figure out who the bloody hell it was and what in blazes kind of name was Draco?

Typical!

Julia rolled her eyes, "Yes we have, the friend who came over for Christmas with that unique blonde hair."

She offered, mentioning Draco's most memorable feature.

Richard looked at a complete loss for words; he couldn't remember for the life of him who this boy was.

Julia reached out and squeezed Hermione's hand, "Don't you think it's too soon to be in a new relationship?"

Hermione could see the concern in her mother's eyes, but this was no rebound.

This was Draco.

Hermione sighed, "It feels so right mum, he feels right."

Her eyes twinkled as she spoke about Draco.

Her mother smiled warmly, "You love him, Hermione. I've never heard you speak of even Ron this way."

Hermione blushed, LOVE? Er...!

She smiled shyly at her mother, "Draco is no Ron, mum"

"If you're happy then, we are too," Julia added reassuringly, taking their empty cups to the dishwasher.

"I'm very happy with him," Hermione added confidently.

It was the truth; he had always been there for her.

Grabbing a croissant, Hermione broke it in half and while munching on it and savouring the buttery taste she went upstairs to her room.

It was just the way it had always been, her parents never redecorated.

Her room still had the starry lights, the picture wall with all her childhood pictures, drawings of potted plants and shelves upon shelves of books.

Hermione flopped down on her bed, it was smaller than she remembered but having shared a King size bed over the past few days could make any bed seem small.

She missed him, they spent so much time together.

She reached for her Muggle phone with the intent of calling him but it vibrated in her hand.

"I miss you" Draco spoke first.

He didn't bother with pleasantries.

"Me too, how was your day?" She asked anxiously.

The faint sound of music could be heard in the background.

He was at the Club. Hermione wondered if Blaise and Theo were there too.

"The usual, meetings, how are your parents?" He asked genuinely concerned.

Hermione thought for a bit and confided, "Good, I told them about you."

Silence

"What did they say?" Draco was curious.

Parents loved him generally, it was a gift.

Hermione laughed at the concern in his voice, "That they want me to be happy."

"That is what I aim for," he teased.

Without much thought, he blurted out, "I would like to meet them."

Sod it, he had to go and fuck up everything.

Too soon mate!

Silence

He stammered, "Er..look...Hermi...," but she cut him off.

"Dinner tomorrow?" She asked, hoping it wasn't too soon.

Well, he did ask!

Draco sighed in relief, "That sounds great babe, I'll see you then."

"Miss you darling, see you then," Hermione replied happily and hung up.

She stared at the phone for a bit more and went in search of her parents.

Her parents were in the living room, laughing at the show on Tv.

They were watching the reruns of Fawlty Towers.

They looked up, as she entered the area and settled down next to her dad and asked shyly, "Is it alright if Draco comes over for dinner tomorrow?"

She hesitated and added, "He wants to meet you."

Julia got up and rubbed Hermione's shoulders, "Of course."

Hermione peaked a look at her father.

Richard grinned, "I think it's splendid that he wants to come to meet us, Hermione."

She slept peacefully in her old room; the familiarity was welcoming.

The sun streamed relentlessly into the room, leaving no area hidden.

Hermione groaned, grabbed a pillow and tried to shield her face from the insistent rays.

It was useless!

Frustrated, she reluctantly pushed herself off the bed and took a long steamy shower.

Changing into shorts and a simple t-shirt she headed downstairs, pulling her hair into a messy ponytail.

Animated voices travelled from the kitchen and a familiar laugh drifted her way.

Hermione cocked her head to the side puzzled, it couldn't be.

She poked her head into the kitchen and her mother caught her, "Good morning sleepy head."

Her eyes widened, Draco leaned against the kitchen counter with an apron around his waist.

He was wearing faded jeans and a black long sleeve V-neck t-shirt.

"Draco!" she exclaimed, her voice high pitch for no reason.

He flashed his adorable smile, came towards her and planted a kiss on her forehead.

"What the hell are you doing here so early?" she whispered, so her mother wouldn't hear.

"I wanted to surprise you, and help your mum cook," he said with a smirk.

This was not happening, Hermione blinked to make sure it wasn't some bizarre dream.

No! Not a bloody dream! 

The sneaky bloody Slytherin was in her fucking kitchen, with an apron tied around him!

Her dad walked in through the backdoor, his arms full of her mother's roses and exclaimed loudly, "She's finally awake."

He joked, "She sleeps more than a sloth."

Draco raised his eyebrows and Hermione laughed.

She knew he had no idea what a sloth was.

They sat around the kitchen table, eating, scrambled eggs, bacon, pork sausages and marmalade with butter and toast.

Hermione studied Draco while biting into her toast.

He was laughing at something her father said.

The man was getting along quite famously with her parents.

"Thank you for the bottles of Mead," Richard thanked Draco after his third cup.

Hermione snorted into her drink.

Draco made eye contact with Hermione and smiled. After breakfast, they wandered around the house and she showed him her room.

He leaned against the door, watching Hermione inside her room, "How charming."

She rolled her eyes and teased, "Not everyone grows up in a Manor Draco."

He gathered her in his arms, kissed her nose and replied fondly, "I wish I grew up like this, the best thing about my childhood is Bernard."

Hermione kissed him lightly, "Why did you come so early?"

He kissed her back, "Because I missed you and I wanted a casual meeting, not a stuck up stuffy dinner."

She had to give him that, it was a valid point.

Taking his hand, she dragged him to the living room, "Come on, let's go watch TV with dad."

He watched a football match between Liverpool and Arsenal.

Liverpool was winning and Richard cheered heartily and bellowed at the TV, "Come on Gerrard, let's get ahead son."

"Dad loves football," Hermione explained, to a surprised Draco.

He knew what football was, and even played a bit once with Blaise but he was a Quidditch man and that would never change.

Richard was a warm and friendly man, who loved his daughter.

Before dinner, he spoke to Draco, "A word son."

Draco exchanged a look of concern with Hermione and she visibly paled.

He followed the kindly man into the backyard, it was beautiful.

Richard handed Draco a tumbler, the rich amber liquid barely covered the two ice cubes.

He began to speak, looking out into the garden while he twirled his tumbler, "Hermione has been through a lot, Ron put her through a lot."

Draco listened intently.

Richard pressed, "And from what I've seen today, she cares about you more than the redhead."

Draco snorted at the comment.

A sadness crept upon Richards's face, "Don't hurt her Draco, she's a good woman and deserves happiness."

Draco sighed, "I won't hurt her sir, you have my word."

He didn't skip a beat, "She means everything to me."

He meant every word.

Hermione had always been a part of him. He would sooner hurt himself than her.

Richard smiled, and the two men clicked tumblers and took a sip of the liquid.

It was rich, smoky and immensely gratifying.

"Let's go eat," Richard gestured toward the smell coming out of the kitchen and Draco trailed close behind.

The two ladies were already at the table, Hermione's eyebrows shot up but Draco silenced her with a look.

He took the seat next to her and reached for her hand under the table and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"Mum, this is delicious," Hermione told her mother after a second helping.

Her mother laughed, it was warm and genuine, "Draco deserves some of the credit."

Draco smiled politely, "I did nothing anything except cut the cucumber."

They all laughed and Hermione watched him through lowered eyelashes.

He would never cease to surprise her.

How easily he fit in, Ron had been awkward at first and terrified of her father.

It had taken him close to four visits to settle down in front of her parents but Draco made it look so easy.

It was getting late and they had an early start tomorrow.

Hermione rushed upstairs to gather her things, while Draco thanked her parents for having him.

She came downstairs with her bag to witness her mother gather her boyfriend in a tight hug and her father pat him on the back.

She gave her dad a big hug and peck on the cheek.

The older man advised sternly, "You be good now Hermione, and take care love."

"Be safe sweetheart," her mother hugged her next.

They went outside and Draco took her hand in his, "My place or yours?"

He smiled mischievously, without waiting for her to answer he took them to his place.

Once they were in his flat, he dragged her close and kissed her, steadily deepening the kiss as his arms went around her holding her flush against his body.

He dropped a loving kiss to her nose and muttered, "I've wanted to do that all day."

She laughed and struggled out of his grasp, "I have to go home."

Draco widened his arms, "You are home."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Er...my flat, I have an early morning meeting, darling,"

He shrugged his shoulders, "If that's what you want."

She gave him a quick kiss and then apparated into her apartment.

She glanced around her empty flat, it was dark and gloomy.

Loneliness washed over her.

Fuck this!

It was late, but she had a quick shower, packed the things she needed for the morning and apparated back to Draco's spacious flat.

A smile of happiness lit her face at once.

Hermione changed into her night shorts and top and slipped under the covers.

He turned, gathered her in his arms and mumbled sleepily, "Maybe you should just live here."

His hand roamed under her top.

She sighed with content and surrendered herself to his very insistent tongue.