The winter holidays were fast approaching and Hermione was busier than ever between prefect duties, her preparation for O.W.L.s, and secret defense meetings she’d helped Harry organize.

In many ways the DA meetings reminded her of the summer at the Manor learning defensive spells with Lucius. Though she would never tell Harry, he also reminded her very much of Lucius and his serious manner of teaching. Though she’d quietly asked Harry if he’d be open to inviting some of the Slytherins to the defense group – namely Blaise and Daphne who were usually on okay terms with a few of the Gryffindors – she was vehemently shot down.

“Invite Slytherins ?” Harry had gaped at her. “Sometimes I wonder what goes on in that big brain of yours, Mione.”

She’d comforted herself with knowing Theo and Draco had begun to prepare Daphne, Pansy, and Blaise for what was to come. Many times, when she was able to sneak away to the library to meet with them, she’d find Theo or Draco mid-flow about defensive spells or hexes. Though the three didn’t have any specifics on what had happened over the summer, the knowledge that the Dark Lord had a plan for Hermione was enough to have them banding together to help wherever they could.

For Daphne that mainly meant emotional support. She found plenty of opportunities to quietly provide support to Hermione, especially since they were partners during Herbology. Even if it was just a comforting squeeze of her hand or a few quiet words about Blaise and her new courtship (complete with a diamond pendant necklace) to distract her. Those moments meant the world to Hermione.

For Pansy, it meant schooling Hermione on all knowledge a pureblood witch needed to succeed in the world. Thanks to a helpful Parkinson house elf, Pansy had inundated Hermione with reading material that Hermione then transfigured into different books to keep hidden. When she’d first offered this knowledge, Hermione had turned her down.

“Why in the world would I need to know how to move through pureblood society, Pans?” She’d asked with a laugh.

Pansy’s face hadn’t shown a shred of humor as she narrowed her eyes on Hermione.

“For one, you are being courted by Draco sodding Malfoy – Slytherin Prince. For another, though I don’t know what He has planned for you, this knowledge can only help to keep you safe – don’t you think? What if you please him so much you end up in his inner circle? The last thing you want is to be fed to the wolves.”

Hermione’s stomach had dropped at those words. Fed to the wolves… More like fed to the snake.

Blaise had decided to throw his lot in with Theo and Draco, pledging his loyalty to the Dark Lord when the time came. That way, he reasoned, no matter what they went through – they could get through it together. He’d always had a knack for picking up on protective enchantments and notice-me-not charms, so he began studying them in earnest to have something to offer to the Dark Lord.

She’d given the secret of the room of requirement to the Slytherins so they could also have a place to practice. The five of them were aware of the DA meetings and always made sure to keep themselves away during that time, but it made her feel better to know that everyone she loved was learning to protect themselves against whatever forces may wish them harm whether it was the Order or the Dark Lord.

“You can’t save everyone, love,” Draco said softly one evening as they patrolled the halls on prefect duty.

It was the one advantage of having a Head Boy and Girl that didn’t particularly like neither Draco nor Hermione. Adrian Pucey thought it was amusing to pair them together, assuming they’d be battling every time they had to patrol the corridors. Though Ron had tried a few times to speak up for Hermione, she’d silenced him under the guise of not wanting to cause problems.

“I can try,” she responded to Draco as they turned down another empty hallway.

Draco slipped his hand through hers, running his thumb beneath the charmed bracelet she always wore. Warmth spread through her like wildfire when she caught his affectionate gaze. He tugged her closer, releasing her hand to draw an arm around her shoulders. She sighed, pressing her head into his shoulder and breathing in the scent of him.

“Listen, what’s important right now is you . In comparison, the rest of us will have an easier time when it comes to… whatever’s coming. You’ve done an amazing job making sure everyone is taken care of – now it’s time to take care of you.”

It was difficult for Hermione to hear that. She’d always prioritized the wellbeing of others above herself, whether it was following Harry or Ron into darkened corridors to give a baby dragon a better home, at risk of expulsion, or protecting her Slytherin friends from harm’s way at risk of her own reputation or physical safety. On her list of priorities her name was towards the bottom – if not at the bottom.

“I am taking care of myself, Draco. I’ve got a whole study schedule for O.W.L.s and for the DA, as well as time to look over possible career paths after seventh year.” Her voice had taken on that high pitched tone whenever she began to talk about things that made her anxious.

“That’s not what I’m talking about and you know it.” Draco stopped, turning her to face him and cupping her cheeks in his hands. “Father wrote to me this morning to let me know you’ll be needed at the manor as soon as the Christmas holidays begin.”

She paled.

“Exactly. We know He is pleased with you but that doesn’t mean we don’t need to be careful. From what father says he can be temperamental at best and especially with…” He seemed to struggle for the words for a moment. “What you are, it is important that we present to him a united, confident, and masterful front. Which means controlling our fear and anxiety which means taking care of you .”

“And taking care of you,” she murmured.

Draco’s thumb stroked her cheek, catching lightly on her bottom lip.

“We already agreed, yes? To protect each other?”

She nodded, smiling at the memory.

“Always,” she replied, leaning forward to kiss him.

There was a loud squeaking of shoes against the stone floors and they sprung apart, Draco moving to stand on the opposite side of the corridor as they began to walk again.

“Mione!” Ron called and Hermione internally groaned.

“Ron? What is it?” she asked, turning to face him.

From her peripheral vision she saw Draco stop as well, his mask-like sneer firmly in place.

“Yes Weasel-king, what is it?” Draco jibed.

Hermione couldn’t help but flutter her eyes closed in annoyance with both boys.

“Well… I just… I knew you’d be finishing up rounds and I thought I’d walk you back to the common room…” Ron said sheepishly, the tips of his ears growing red.

She blinked at him.

“I’m only halfway through my patrol, Ron. I can’t leave yet.” She tried to make her voice sound apologetic rather than relieved.

Ron appeared to think for a long moment before brightening up again.

“Well then Malfoy can sod off and I can finish the rounds with you!” he said, waving a hand in Draco’s direction.

“Language, Weasley,” Draco warned. “You don’t want me reporting to the Head Boy that you were trying to get Granger here to skive off patrols, would you?”

Ron turned to Draco then, the red tips of his ears bleeding down to his cheeks.

“I wasn’t telling her to skive off, ferret. I was telling you to,” he replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Draco rolled his eyes, pushing off from where he leant casually against the wall and strode over to Ron.

“You want me to skive off so you can what? Snog your girlfriend in an abandoned classroom?” Draco’s grey eyes flashed with mirth, especially when he saw the excitement that flickered in Ron’s eyes in response.

Ron opened and closed his mouth a few times as Hermione watched him. At first she was sure he’d correct Draco on them being together, but as the silence lengthened she saw the reality: Ron wanted them to be. She’d assumed the casual touches had been more flirtatious or maybe inquisitive, but now she felt incredibly dim that she hadn’t realized it before. Especially with Ginny’s prodding when she’d first arrived at Grimmauld place.

“I’m not his girlfriend, Malfoy ,” she said quickly, not missing the satisfaction that flared in his grey eyes. She was sure at this point she was standing in the beginning of a pissing contest. “Ron, please, get out of here. I’ll meet you back in the common room once I’m done, all right?”

Ron appeared to deflate a bit at her rejection.

“Thanks for checking up on me, yeah?” Hermione said, offering him a small smile and squeezing his arm.

He ducked his head, his red blush returning at his touch.

“Yeah, all right. I’ll see you later,” he mumbled, turning on his heel to walk back the way he’d come.

“Git,” Draco muttered under his breath.

The moment Ron was out of sight Draco grabbed Hemione by the waist, pulling her bodily into the closest empty classroom.

“ Hey! ” Hermione squealed as he pressed her against the door.

Draco muttered a locking charm before his mouth descended upon hers, his lips moving greedily over her mouth and jaw before finding his favorite spot below her ear. She couldn’t stop the moan that bubbled through her lips as his hand dipped below her skirt to skim the seam of her knickers.

“Didn’t you… just… oh gods Draco… say that people shouldn’t skive off…” Draco’s thumb traced her clit through the material that was getting more soaked by the minute. “To snog their girlfriends in… Merlin, Draco… abandoned classrooms?”

“I said that Weasley shouldn’t skive off to snog his girlfriend in an abandoned classroom,” Draco grumbled, voice dark and possessive. “And lucky for both of us, he has no girlfriend to speak of.”

He dropped to his knees, slowly sliding his hands over her Mary Janes and socks, then up over her calves.

“Is that what this is about?” Hermione asked breathlessly, looking down at him. “Are you jealous, Draco Malfoy?”

There was a wicked gleam in his eyes as his hands slid higher up her legs, over her knees until his fingertips played with the hem of her skirt. She couldn’t stop the fluttering that broke out in her stomach or the way heat began to pool in her core.

“Jealous? Of Weasel-king? Preposterous,” he said in an offhand voice, moving forward to press his mouth to the inside of her knee. “I am merely lavishing my witch with lascivious splendor.”

Circe, there was something about the way Draco could use four syllable words at a time like this that made Hermione’s insides turn to lava. She took a deep breath, suppressing a moan as fingertips moved higher to skate the hem of her knickers.

“Oh?” she managed, raising a brow. “So this has nothing to do with the way Ron practically drooled all over himself at the idea of doing this very thing with me?”

Draco growled low in his throat.

“I hope you didn’t fancy these knickers, love,” he rasped, right before he pushed his thumbs through the seam and ripped them from her body.

Grabbing one of her thighs he threw it over his shoulder as he pressed his mouth to her core. Licking and sucking with a ferocity she’d never experienced with him before. Like he was dying of thirst and she was a cold glass of pure water. One of his hands reached up to brush his thumb against the stiff peak of her breast through the fabric of her shirt.

“You. Are. Mine,” he groaned between long licks.

“Yes,” she moaned, threading her fingers into his white-blonde hair.

With a soft thud her head fell back against the door as she felt two blunt fingers press into her, the delicious sensation of his signet ring rubbing against her.

“Draco… oh gods Draco .”

Her legs began to shake as he continued to lap and suck at her clit, his fingers curling to find the sensitive spot that always made her come apart at the seams.

“That’s right,” he moaned against her skin. “Just like that, love.”

She crested her pleasure, spiraling down with a loud cry that had Draco reaching to cover her mouth with his other hand.

“Good girl,” he said as she came back to herself, holding her up until she could find her legs again.

He stood, pulling her into his arms and kissing her, dipping his tongue into her mouth, as if he could claim that too.

“Not jealous my arse,” Hermione grumbled as they straightened themselves and quietly exited the classroom.