Second Time Around

Draco stormed into Wright’s office for the second time in as many days. He slammed a paper on the desk, again, making him jump, again.

“What the-,”

“If you weren’t pushing that divorce before, you are now.”

“Draco, I don’t have time for this!”

“Then make time, damn it! Read it. Go on.”

Gerald sighed, glancing up at him. Shaking his head he reached for the envelope and flipped it open, reading the slip of parchment in it. He chewed the inside of his cheek and looked at Draco.

“I’m listening.”

“That came to my house last night.”

“I thought you lived in an apartment?”

“Exactly. Didn’t know I had a house, did you?”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Damn it, Gerald! No one knows about my house! I bought it in Greece two years ago from a private seller. I never told anyone. That house is un-plottable, un-navigable and there is only one way to get to it! How did it get there?”

“Merlin, Draco! I don’t know! Did you take it up with the Head of Investigations?”

“The Head of Investigations is the woman this damn thing is referring to!” Draco snarled, hitting the desk with the side of his fist.

“Alright, then anyone in her department?”

“I had some people in the lab take a look at it. No fingerprints, no watermarks, nothing. The seal is not recorded and in fact does not exist. It’s made up. The wax is your normal everyday wax that you can pick up anywhere. We tried to figure out who might have made it but they’re all the same nowadays. The print can’t be identified in the way it was written, in all capital letters, but I would like to have Ronald Bilius Weasley in here for questioning and a writing test, see if we can nail him for this.”

“Are you listening to yourself, Draco? You are a lawyer for Merlin’s sake! Leave this to the investigators, they’ll handle it. You job is to do the paperwork and represent her in court. That’s it. Case closed. Get this properly filed and I’ll have it sent to the Board immediately. They’ll get her in as soon as they can but you have to understand that this is not the most important case we have going right now. There was a murder in Devon last week and that problem with Emmeline Grenkee in Bristol trying to show the Muggles we exist. We’ve had nearly every Obliviator on that case! I’m sorry, but a marital dispute will just have to wait.”

“Even when she and her lawyer are being threatened?” he growled.

“I said we’d do the best we can. For now, just watch your backs, don’t take chances. Most likely it is her husband just trying to scare you.”

“Gerald, her husband could not have found that house. He didn’t exactly pass his O.W.L’s with ‘Outstandings.”

“Then maybe he hired somebody to do it for him! I don’t know, that’s not my department. Take it to investigations and let them figure it out, that’s their job! Now I want that report on my desk in an hour and I want you to blow that meeting with Hernando Cortez out of the water, he’s dumping tons of money into the Ministry.”

Gerald dismissed him but stopped him at the door.

“Draco, I’m sorry. You know I’d like to help you, but I’ve got my hands tied. Take care of yourself, alright? And, do yourself a favor,” he looked at him seriously. “Do not get involved with this woman. You’re getting in too deep; it’s clouding your vision. We have rules for a reason.”

Draco nodded curtly. He knew Gerald was swamped, but he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. This situation had just turned from bad to worse.

==============================================


Hermione dropped her briefcase on her desk and hung up her cloak on her coat rack. She tried to still her hands but every time she thought about last night she’d start shaking all over again. What was it about that man that got her so worked up? Last night she’d been so aroused simply by being in his proximity she’d tossed and turned for hours and had finally given up on the thought of sleep. Instead she jogged the beach for nearly two hours until the sun came up. Jadie’d had a missive for her from Draco saying he’d gone to the office early and to help herself to some breakfast and the fireplace. She’d grabbed a muffin from the buffet on the table and left for work.

On her way to the office she’d received all the weird looks she’d been looking oh-so-forward to and had had to explain to Lavender that what Skeeter had printed was indeed not the case and that Draco was simply her lawyer. However, at the mention of ‘Draco’ instead of ‘Malfoy’ she’d let out a screech like a banshee and asked if they were going to date when it was over.

Hermione rolled her eyes at her friend’s insinuations, the back of her mind saying I wish!. Then she’d slapped herself mentally for thinking something like that at all. She was a harlot of the worst kind. She was still married!

But not for long…

Oh shut up!, she told her brain. What was wrong with her?

Throwing herself into her chair she was filling out some last minute paperwork for a meeting she had at nine when Mary walked in.

“Miss…erm…Hermione?”

“Hermione is fine, Mary,” she said with a smile.

“Erm, these came for you,” she said bringing in an enormous bouquet of flowers.

“Really? Who are they from?”

“The carrier didn’t say, but there’s a card.”

“Carrier? That’s odd, why didn’t they send it with a couple owls?”

“I thought the same thing. Where would you like them?”

“On the desk will be-,”

“Who are those from?” a voice demanded from behind Mary so harshly the poor girl nearly dropped them.

“Malfoy what are you-,”

“Who did they come from?” he growled at her secretary.

“Well, I don’t know they didn’t say-,”

“Take them out, now,” he snapped.

“Excuse me!” Hermione said in disgust. “Who in the world do you think you are? Mary, please, just put them down and leave the very rude Mr. Malfoy and I alone.”

“Take them away and dispose of them.”

Hermione glared at the adamant man and signaled to her secretary to set them down. She did so nervously and quickly exited the room. Malfoy darted forward and ripped the card out from her bouquet.

“Malfoy, this is ridiculous! What are you doing? Stop this at once!”

“You don’t know who they are from, they could be dangerous!”

“Malfoy, they’re flowers! You are being completely paranoid!” Hermione dove for the small envelope only to have him raise it above his head.

“Malfoy, please give me the card. It is addressed to me thank you very much!”

“The name is Draco and you have no idea what could be in it. Care for more bobotuber pus? Or was once not enough?”

“This is insane! It’s not nearly big enough for something like that! They’re just flowers!”

“We’ll see,” he said and ripped open the card to her dismay. Still grasping for it he read it and finally handed it over.

Hermione,

I know I’ve been a royal jerk but if you ever have it in your heart to forgive me, I will do everything I can to make you happy. I can be a better man, please give me another chance.

Your loving husband,

Ron.

“Real dangerous,” she muttered, throwing the note in the bin and carrying the flowers out to Mary to keep on her desk. She went back into her office and closed the door, leaning against it.

“This has got to stop.”

“I know it’s alright this time but-,”

“You are completely obsessed! You can’t save me from a threat that doesn’t exist. Malfoy, all I’m doing is divorcing my husband, that’s it! Millions have done it before me and millions will do so after me. I’m not in any imminent danger so if you will be so kind as to leave me to my work I would appreciate it.”

Malfoy contemplated her for a moment before nodding. “I will leave my office open for whenever you wish to come home.”

Hermione thanked him and let him out. She couldn’t believe this. Was it his guilty conscious that forced him to act this way? To him it seemed that everyone was out for her. It was just a bloody divorce!

And back to those bloody flowers, what a git! She felt sick to her stomach, the usual burn taking over, when she thought about it. Why would he be sending her flowers now? He should be ecstatic that she was leaving him, he’d be free to do as he pleased, maybe make his relationship with Rebbekah a little more exclusive. Or he could go and fuck everything with two legs without sneaking around. It didn’t matter to her anymore.

With a groan, she sank into her chair and rubbed her pounding head. Nothing made sense anymore.

======================================================


When Hermione finally slunk into Malfoy’s office sometime after ten, she was surprised to see him still there, one hand clenching his platinum blonde hair, the other scribbling madly on a foot long scroll. He didn’t even look up when she walked in, his head bent low. She watched him for a minute and fingered the smile that crept onto her face. He was so beautiful, the flickering candle next to him shedding a warm presence on his weary face. She wondered at all the work he’d been putting into making her divorce as quick and as painless as possible. She couldn’t believe all he was doing for her. Debt or no debt, it was sweet. She realized she’d been nothing more than another hassle. She’d been an unappreciative bitch. He’d done so much for her, sacrificed so much already, and she just sat there dodging him at every turn.

He dotted the paper rather harshly and threw down the quill, leaning back with closed eyes and scrubbing his face. She wondered if he always did that or if it was something he’d picked up from the stress of her case. When he opened his eyes and saw her standing there he glanced at his watch.

“About time,” he said.

“Speak for yourself.”

He gestured to the paper. “Just finishing up some things. Are you ready?”

She nodded and he shuffled his papers, sorting them out before grabbing his cloak and taking a pinch of floo powder from the mantle and throwing it into the fire.

“Ladies first,” he said with a charming wave of his hand and she made to go past him before turning and standing on her tip-toes, kissing him lightly on the cheek.

“Thank you,” she whispered, catching his stormy eyes before turning to the grate.

“No you don’t,” he growled, grabbing her arm and dragging her back against his body, his mouth descending on hers. She moaned loudly as he ravished her with his lips, her hands coming up to clench at his strong shoulders. Heat engulfed her body, a warm sensation pooling in her stomach. Her senses reeled and she was stunned at how powerful her reaction to a simple kiss from this man was. Except it wasn’t simple, nothing about it was simple. She wanted him, but she shouldn’t. The thought fled her mind as he shoved her back, her thighs crashing into his desk, his hands taking up residence on her body. She dropped her briefcase and cupped his face, dragging it down harder, taking his lips and giving back as much as he gave. He squeezed his way between her legs and shoved up against her making her gasp. Gods, she needed him so bad, that friction, that heat, that satisfaction that her husband had never quite achieved in giving her.

A bucket of proverbial ice descended upon her. Her husband. She was married, a married woman and she was doing exactly the thing she had left him for. Shoving Draco back maybe a little more roughly than was necessary, she sagged against the desk, her hands holding up her weak and fully aroused body. They looked at each other for a minute, both of them panting hard before he wiped a hand over his mouth, as if to rid himself of the taste of her.

“I’m sorry-,” he started but she held up a hand. She didn’t want to hear it, didn’t want to hear the apologies and regret that would fill his voice. He regretted kissing her and that was fine because she regretted kissing him. At least she should. Right now the only regret she could dig up was in shoving him away as her body thrummed with desire even just by looking at his toned body. With a shaky hand she picked up her briefcase and held it hard, trying to stop the tremor.

“Maybe I should stay somewhere else,” she said, her voice defying her body.

“No, no you’re not going to sacrifice your safety for my stupid mistake. I’ll see you to Weston House and then stay at my apartment. You’ll be safe there.”

“Safe from what, Draco?” she laughed exasperatedly. “The press?”

He said nothing but grabbed another pinch of floo powder and threw it back into the fireplace where the dead flames roared to their green life once more. He motioned for her to enter once more and she gave him a wide berth, stepping into the flames and shouting “Weston House!”

When she landed she headed straight for her bedroom but he caught her on the stairs.

“Hermione, wait!”

She tuned even as her mind screamed at her to continue on, to find the safety of her room. He took the stairs two at a time until he was one below her’s, looking her almost in the eye as he still had her by a few inches.

“I’m not going to apologize for kissing you because that would be a lie. I am going to apologize for kissing you at the wrong time. You need your space, I understand that. But I can’t help it. I want you, Hermione. I’ve wanted you for a long time. You’ve always been unobtainable and now that you’re within reach I’m finding it hard to keep my control. I know this isn’t what you want to hear right now and I’ll be beating myself with a broomstick later but my mouth doesn’t want to stop moving.” He cupped her cheek and her lids grew heavy at the affectionate gesture. “I’ll wait for you as long as it takes, but you can’t deny what’s between us.”

“What’s between us, Draco? A seven-year-long debt? A misplaced sense of endearment because I helped you out all those years ago? Draco, this is crazy! There’s nothing between us except misconceptions and sexual tension!” She watched with lament as his face hardened to stone. “Look, I don’t think it would be a good idea to see each other anymore except on a professional level. It’s too much temptation.”

“And why is that?” he asked in a dangerously low voice. “Because you want me? I’ve already admitted that I want you and you didn’t exactly reject my kiss back there. What are you so afraid of? Are you afraid that I’ll turn out like Ron?”

“Don’t speak about my husband,” she whispered. “You don’t understand. And yes, maybe I am a little worried seeing as I’m incredible stressed, sexually frustrated and going through a divorce! I’m simply lashing out against the unfairness of my situation and you are making it incredibly hard for me to make it through this unscarred! I don’t want to be like him!”

He seemed to finally understand and backed down another step, creating some distance.

“I’ll have some dinner sent up to you. I’ll be here at eight to escort you to the office,” he said and turned around sharply and jogged down the stairs, striding across the front hall where he flew into his office and slammed the door shut so hard it made Hermione jump. Shaking from head to toe, she made her way slowly to her room and closed the door silently, sinking against it. Not bothering to turn on the light, she cried herself to sleep.

======================================================


XOXO

RynStar15