Chapter Text
Reacquainted
One of the perks of leaving the Ministry was having to go to less events such as this one. She would much rather be at home reading a book in front of her fireplace than here. There was too much fake chatter as people exchanged pleasantries about the weather or whatever else they wanted to pass off as small talk.
Not for the first time, Hermione tapped her beaded bag with the undetectable expanding charm and wondered how soon was too soon to take the edge off her way.
A serving tray floated through the air with champagne flutes and Hermione grabbed one immediately.
As usual whenever he entered the room, her body shuddered with anticipation. She took a deep drink from her glass, missing the days where alcohol actually did something to her system. On cue, the rest of the room took notice of his presence and all attention was focused on the entry.
Even after all these years, Harry Potter still wasn't comfortable with all the attention. He was much more accustomed to it, but he still wished he would be able to blend in freely like the rest of them. Of course, not many would ever guess that about him.
Hermione snorted at that thought and watched through the crowd as her long-time friend greeted those around him. She sipped at her flute as she watched the way his fingers slid across his wife's shoulders as he removed her coat. Even from here, she could feel them dancing across her own.
Gooseflesh prickled her skin and her gaze lifted slightly; brown eyes clashing with green.
Her breath caught in her throat as she nodded in greeting and then turned away. There was no rush in seeking him out. One way or another, their paths would cross. They always did.
In the meantime, they would both put on the same song and dance expected of them. He would spend most of his time with Ginny and the coordinators of the event. When his arrival wasn't the center of attention any more, he would slip away and she would follow.
Until that time, she decided she needed another hit. Hermione finished her glass and set it on whatever surface was closest to her. She turned in the direction of the loo, but stopped at the sight of Lavender.
"Her-Hermione," the other girl stammered.
"Mrs. Weasley," she greeted.
Once upon a time, the brunette before her was so jealous of Hermione that she nearly ended the Golden Trio by making Ron choose. In that same time, Hermione had been devastated. Now, Lavender was terrified of her; thinking she had stolen Ron away in the end. Hermione laughed inwardly every time. She had assured her time and time again that their departure had been mutual. That his being with Lavender while they were technically together was nothing.
He hadn't been the only unfaithful one.
"I didn't think you would come," she said weakly.
"I wasn't going to, but since it's a fund raiser for the Care of Magical Creatures, I figured I should finally show up to one. Kingsley asked me." Her eyes flickered towards the hallway, fingers tapping her bag. The potion was wearing off. "How are you?"
"I'm doing rather well, thank you."
Hermione took a moment to look at the deep ridges of fused flesh that ran the length of her face, neck, and disappeared into her neckline. A reminder of the war. "Whatever new potion they're trying, it's really working."
Lavender squirmed uncomfortably, but blushed a little at the compliment. "Thank you, Hermione. It really has helped. They weren't sure since it was… you know."
Greyback. A werewolf.
Of the survivors, Lavender was one of the extremely lucky ones.
"I'll find you and Ron later; I really need the loo, excuse me," she said and slipped through the rest of the crowd down the hallway to the bathrooms.
She forced herself to remain steady, but the moment the door was closed, she gripped her wand with trembling fingers and yanked open the beaded bag. She summoned her vial and brought it to her lips so fast it clanked against her teeth. She gulped it down greedily and sighed as it took effect.
She would have to worry about the fact that was her last dose tomorrow. This would at least get her through the night. And if it didn't, at least she had a little bit of Dreamless Sleep left for when she got home. Besides, if it didn't last through the night, she would have a bigger problem at hand.
She dropped the empty vial back into the bag and leaned against the counter after turning on the sink. She stared at herself in the mirror. Her vision had a golden haze at the edge and whenever she moved her body felt as though it were just gliding through the air.
If flying felt the way the potions did, she wouldn't mind it.
A small bit of laughter bubbled past her lips as she stared back at her reflection. If someone had told her a few years ago that she would be at a Ministry Gala addicted to potions and having an affair with her best friend, she would have never believed it.
She turned off the water and dried her hands. One last adjustment to her clothes and look at herself before the opened the door. However, instead of stepping into the hall, she found herself being ushered back inside the small room.
Harry latched the door behind him a second before she lunged forward. She pinned him between her body and the door. Her hands shot up to delve into his ever-messy brown locks, tugging his head down to her level. She mashed their lips together and hissed as his fingers dug so hard into her sides she was sure they would bruise.
She took his lower lip between her teeth and he groaned at the mix of pleasure and pain it brought. He pulled his head back and her lips simply trailed down his neck, nipping and licking until she found the sweet spot.
He licked his lips; the familiar taste of her favorite potion and his blood on his tongue. For a moment he worried about her, but his thoughts blurred as her hand cupped his swollen length over his clothes. "We have to hurry."
She nipped harder than before. "Don't we always."
"Hermione-"
"I know, I know," she said and made quick work of undoing his belt and fly. "Maybe we can do a round two tonight?" she whispered hopefully as she shoved his clothes down his legs, enjoying the way his cock twitched as she brushed it with her palm.
A startled cry escaped her lips as he spun her with such force it made her dizzy. He slammed her against the counter and reached for her skirt. She widened her stance as he bunched the material high at her waist. "Maybe," he muttered. She smirked at the catch in his breath when he discovered her lack of knickers.
She felt a finger slide between her folds and bit down on her bottom lip. Making sure she was sufficiently wet and happy with the results, he positioned himself just right and slammed himself into her. Hermione cried out; a sound that was stifled by his hand over her mouth.
They had been doing this long enough to know each other's bodies like their own. He would always bring her to oblivion and back in just a few strokes. No matter how much she wished he would take even a few extra moments, it was always rushed. But neither one of them ever left the encounters unsatisfied.
From her vantage point, she could see him pumping away at her from behind in the mirror. He looked up and caught her stare in the reflection. "Merlin, Hermione," he hissed, taking in the sight of her.
"Harry…"
His gaze never left hers as they both reached their peak.
He collapsed for a moment on her back, pressing her further against the counter. They both panted for air from their exertion. All too soon, he was pulling away from her. He used his wand to clean them both up and erase all evidence of their coupling. She used hers to conceal the bruise on his neck and the bite on his lip.
He cupped her face tenderly and kissed her in the same manner. "I'll try to slip away again if I can," he said, his forehead resting against hers. "But-"
"No promises, I know," she whispered.
He kissed her again and then ducked out of the loo leaving Hermione alone again. As always, she waited a few minutes; mostly to regain her composure; always thankful for the potion in her system. When enough time had passed, she left the room.
She considered mingling with the others, but the moment she left the hallway she was rewarded with Ginny's arm around Harry's waist. He caught her gaze only to quickly avert it. With that, she made her way to the bar.
Champagne was not going to cut it.
"Firewhiskey, double, neat," she barked to the woman behind the bar.
"Make that two."
Hermione turned her head to see Draco Malfoy fall into place at her side. He placed a few Galleons on the bar; enough for both glasses.
"Never thought you'd come to one of these again," she said.
"Hence the reason I need a double," he replied. "What's your reason?"
"I could tell you, but I'm afraid I'd have to Obliviate you right after."
"I thought as much."
The glasses appeared in front of them and they clinked them together before draining the first half. "How have you been?" he asked as they took up the barstools at the end of the bar.
"Can't complain too much. You?"
"People have told me I do complain too much," he said with a grin.
"How's Astoria?"
"Last I heard, not too bad. She and her husband live in South America now. I think."
"Her husband?"
He raised a pale blonde brow at her. "How long has it been since you and I saw each other last, Granger? Don't you ever read the Prophet?"
"I try my hardest to steer clear of that rubbish," she replied, taking a sip. "And last I saw you was your engagement party. To Astoria."
"Merlin, that was nearly three years ago."
She scrunched her face as she thought about it. "I guess it was." She finished the rest of her glass and signaled for another. "Makes sense. We're not exactly friends."
"We should change that."
Her eyes met his and saw a flash in those silvery orbs. "We sort of did."
He rolled his eyes and she let herself glance at his lips for a moment. "I don't know if being court ordered to attend my last year at Hogwarts with you as my tutor counts. No offense."
She waved her hand and finished the second glass. "You were the world's biggest prat, Malfoy, but you were never dumb. Compared to Ron and Harry you were a breeze to tutor. Besides, it was harder on me than you."
A moment passed between them as they remembered their year in close capacity. The war had changed them both. By the time they started and Hermione was told she was in charge of making sure he passed or he would go to Azkaban, she had already put aside her animosity for him. He had appeared to do the same.
They had more than once witnessed each other dealing with their own demons; neither of them ever bringing it up in the light of day.
He studied her as she played with her empty glass. There was something off about her. He had never pegged her for one to down liquor in quite such a manner. The faraway look in her eye made him aware there was more going on under that stony surface of hers.
"What do you say we get out of here and get reacquainted?" he offered. He hoped that by taking her out of this place it might ease her nerves.
She threw her head back and laughed. "That's your pick-up line?" she teased. "The legendary silver-tongued Draco Malfoy… You can do better."
"I assure you, Granger, if that was my intention, the line would have indeed been much better."
"Is that so?" She tipped her head to the side and gestured. "What would you have said?"
"There you are," came another voice.
Hermione stilled as Harry came over to them. His arm was linked with his wife's and they were beaming. "We came to see what was so funny," Ginny said, smiling at them.
"Ah, the Golden Boy himself!" Malfoy said, lifting his glass in a mock toast. "And the Weaselette."
"Draco," he greeted, an edge to his tone.
"Just catching up. Something from that last year at Hogwarts," Hermione said and chugged her third glass. She set it down rather harshly and got to her feet. She swayed, but Malfoy was there to catch her. His hand hit the small of her back and he took note of the look that passed between the Boy Who Lived and the Gryffindor Princess. He looked at Ginny to see if she noticed it, but it was clear that she hadn't.
"Malfoy and I were just leaving," she added, a slight slur to her words.
"Hermione-"
"We'll catch up at the Burrow next weekend for James' birthday," Ginny said, a touch of worry in her voice at seeing her friend this way.
"Of course. See you then." She exchanged a quick embrace with Ginny and a nod at Harry before turning to Malfoy. "Shall we?"
They gathered their coats at the door and he helped her into hers. He led her with his hand still on the small of her back to one of the phone booths and held it open for her. A few moments later they were greeted by the chilly night air and Hermione relaxed as much as he thought she was capable of.
"Where to?" she asked as they entered the streets of Muggle London.
Malfoy stopped and watched as she swayed on her feet. "Maybe we ought to get you home."
She rolled her eyes. "You're the one that suggested we should get reacquainted," she said, taking an unsteady step towards him.
He did nothing as she approached like a lioness stalking her prey. She reached up and wound his tie through her fingers, pulling him a little closer.
Curious as he was to see if she would follow through, he would never want to take advantage of her. With the amount of Firewhiskey in her system, he was asking for trouble. With his better judgement, he placed his hands on hers and smiled kindly down on her.
"That wasn't what I meant, Granger."
She stared up at him for a moment and then shrugged out of his grasp. "Suit yourself," she said and began to walk away from him.
"You'll get yourself home alright?"
"I always do," she called over her shoulder.
After another step, he heard the familiar pop of Apparition and in the blink of an eye, she was gone.