For Hermione? Love and Trust don’t necessarily go hand in hand as she wrestles with her own nature.

When Hermione and Draco had returned to the common room later that afternoon, it was to the cheers of the rest of Slytherin House. Theo and Blaise immediately came over and patted Draco on the back, while Daphne offered Draco her heartfelt congratulations. She then looked over at her friend, who was plastered next to her intended’s side, and caught Hermione’s eye.

The older witch blushed and Daphne smiled widely and grabbed her hand, taking her upstairs to their shared dorm room.

Draco watched fondly as his love went off with her friend for ‘girl talk’ while Theo and Blaise gave him an appraising look.

“That was some duel, Draco. All the houses have been talking about it after you’d left with your witch. I don’t think we need to guess what you two got up to.” Theo smiled, but Draco just raised an eyebrow coldly.

“Theo, I would appreciate it if you didn’t speculate on what Hermione and I get up to. She’s extremely private and would be upset if she thought people were speaking out of turn.”

Theo appeared chastened and nodded in understanding. “Sorry, mate, won’t happen again.”

Draco bowed his head in thanks while Blaise just clapped him on the back again and gave him a glass of fire whiskey in celebration.

Upstairs, Hermione and Daphne were having a conversation of their own. “You look different, Hermione?”

Hermione smiled and blushed, causing Daphne to gasp and give her friend a hug. “Did you and Draco?”

Daphne whispered and Hermione’s blush deepened, but she shook her head in the negative. “Draco is amazing. He never pushes me and lets me take things at my pace. He’s perfect.”

Daphne laughed. “I promise I won’t ever tell him you said that. But I’m glad. You look happier than I’ve ever seen you and you deserve it.”

Hermione hugged her friend and thanked her effusively. Turning to the blonde witch, Hermione gave her a playful look. “And what about you Miss Greengrass?”

Daphne blushed but looked perplexed. “What about me?”

“Oh, come on! Don’t think I don’t see the way you blush at our new Defense Professor. He is a handsome wizard.”

“Hermione! He is at least twenty years older than me!” Daphne tried to act scandalized, but Hermione wasn’t having any of it.

“Hmmmm...and that voice of his? Doesn’t it make you think all kinds of naughty thoughts?”

Daphne blushed even redder. “I won’t be of age until the end of the month, as you well know. And besides, a wizard like that would never look twice at me. But I can’t help but admit his voice is sexy as fuck, and I may have had a dream last night about him taking me over his teachers desk.”

Hermione laughed loudly. “Well, that’s promising I suppose. Although, I really shouldn’t encourage you in seducing a Professor, but I have it on good authority that Yaxley isn’t lacking for experience. From what my mother tells me, the man had quite the reputation back in school.”

“Really?” Daphne’s eyes widened in interest. “What kind of reputation.”

Hermione leaned over and whispered conspiratorially. “Apparently his seventh year, which was my mother’s first year, Corban got caught by Professor Slughorn in the prefects bathroom. He had three witches in there with him. And apparently, he had shagged them all unconscious.”

“What?!?!” Daphne screeched. “Merlin and Morgana, that is hot!” How am I ever going to look at him again?”

Hermione snickered. “I don’t know, but I think once you come of age, you might want to get yourself a piece of him. He needs an heir, and no witch has managed to turn his head. You just might be the one, if you’re up for the task.”

“Hmmm, I’m getting hot thinking about it. I just want to pull on his braid and song him senseless and it makes me feel like a tart. But he’s just so yummy!”

“He’s actually quite an Arithmancy buff, which I know is your favorite subject. Weren’t you hoping to do some research with Professor Vector this year? I know you’d wanted to get a mastery.”

Daphne sighed loudly. “Yes, I’d really like that but you know how my parents are...marriage, heirs...all that nonsense. They’d never allow me to get a mastery.”

“Perhaps if you had the right sponsor?” Hermione offered.

Daphne processed what Hermione was saying and a wicked smile came over her face. “Excuse me, Hermione! I need to go talk to Professor Vector right now.”

Hermione giggled. “You go and get it girl.”

Daphne just nodded and bounced out of the room, a woman on a mission.

As it turned out Professor Vector was more than happy to offer Daphne an apprenticeship for the year. It would require extra work, and a significant project that would help her in preparation for her NEWTS. The young witch had been so excited, as she left her Professor’s classroom with an armful of extra texts and papers on a variety of subjects. She was just itching to get started, when she ran smack into her new DADA Professor, who was watching her with amusement.

Daphne had fallen onto the ground and her skirt was exposing part of her knickers, which were the new lacy thong ones that Hermione had introduced her to. Yaxley’s eyebrow raised in interest, but he didn’t say anything as he helped the blonde witch to her feet and looked over the books and papers she’d been carrying.

“Interesting material you’ve got there.” Yaxley drawled in the deep voice of his. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for a witch interested in that kind of thing.”

Daphne felt her cheeks redden, and felt embarrassment and anger rising to the surface.

Just what did the git mean by that?

In the haughtiest voice she could muster, she glared at her Professor and lifted a cool eyebrow, assessing the man and suddenly finding him wanting. Yaxley’s eyes however, darkened at the disdainful look from the witch.

“And just what sort of witch did you have me pegged as?”

Corban Yaxley didn’t miss the innuendo nor the challenge in the witch’s voice.

She really didn’t seem intimidated by him at all.

“The kind that’s more interested in wizard’s, make-up, jewels and popping out an heir.” Yaxley replied deeply.

Daphne could feel her magic swirling around her in anger.

She was so fucking tired of people thinking she was only a pretty package!

She was a good student, excellent in Arithmancy and Divination. She may be a Pureblood, but she had ambition.

Her magic lashed out and knocked her DADA Professor back into the wall. She marched up to him in righteous anger, hair sparking and blue eyes shining in fury.

“You don’t know fuck about me, you pompous git! I don’t care if you’re my Professor or not!”

And with that she stomped away, not realizing that the blonde wizard was watching her in admiration and smiling widely as she trounced off, blonde hair flying and hips swaying enticingly.

Daphne had returned to their dorm in a bit of a huff. Hermione had asked her what had happened, but the young witch just grumbled about pompous Pureblood prats and had left it at that.

Hermione left Daphne to her project, while she decided to write to her mother and tell her about what had happened today. Hopefully she wouldn’t be too disappointed in her and perhaps she could smooth things over with her father, when he eventually found out.

She wasn’t a silly witch, and didn’t put much stock in a witch’s worth being based on her virtue or lack thereof. From what little she’d been able to read about the traits of a succubus, they had mates much in the same way Veela did...except unlike Veela—they could have sexual partners other than their mate.

The caveat was how that succubus was bonded to said mate.

She and Draco shared a soul bond, if his ancestor was to be believed, and perhaps this explained her reluctance, or lack of physical lust for Viktor. No matter how much she’d wished it had been different at the time, she just couldn’t muster the attraction to the Bulgarian Wizard.

Draco was experienced and she wasn’t and the double standard was not lost on her. However, she didn’t feel she needed to justify her decision to remain a virgin, anymore than she needed to justify her decision not to be.

Hermione was envious of Daphne’s ability to experiment sexually and sometimes she’d wished she was more like that, but that required a level of trust that she hadn’t yet achieved—even with Draco.

Perhaps as time passed, Hermione thought to herself, she’d be able to open herself up more and eventually trust completely...

...but that time hadn’t come yet—with good reason.