Just for the Night || Dramione

Chapter One

The music induced a chaotic hum amongst the buzz of the nightclub's inhabitants. The deep rumble of its bass shook the floor, a unified frenzy tightening its sultry grasp on the space. Flashing lights, seductive lyrics, and an intimate atmosphere made the difference between night and day upon entering. Hermione Granger wasn't used to places like this, but walking through the door caused a flame to spark in her that she embraced wholeheartedly. She would have loved to explore this life with Ronald, but it was obvious after their last conversation that he didn't share the same interests. The same needs.

Hermione shoved her way unapologetically between the dancing, scantily clad bodies that crowded the floor, finding her way to the bar and signaling a tender. Her intentions were clear tonight: explore. A newfound confidence, fueled by the pain of a long-time companionship having ended, coursed through her veins. She had longed to experiment with this lifestyle for an immeasurable time but always kept that side of herself tame to avoid rocking the boat in her relationship. Being a mother figure to Ronald out of sheer love for him simply wasn't enough anymore. She was tired of the same routine, performing the duties of a housewife for a man who still couldn't commit after nearly eight years together.

She needed more than the endless task of cleaning up after his sloppiness, and the comfortable lack of ambition he had adopted as they grew into their adult selves. Ronald became too comfortable with a life of idleness, and a lack of adventure. Hermione craved something, anything from him that was outside of the boring routine they had adopted.

It was odd, she pondered as she sipped the sparkling liquid in her glass. It was as if one morning, she woke up and realized that this was her only life. She wasn't going to be living it to the fullest by avoiding the experiences that enticed her interest. There was an undying curiosity within her that only grew as the years after Hogwarts passed. She wanted to know what it felt like to be taken with an animalistic desire, to be treated as nothing more than a toy, and to obey just to please someone. It was a strange, overwhelming side of herself that she was more than willing to indulge in now that she was free from the restraints of a quiet life.

Hermione's eyes skimmed the crowd as she brushed a piece of auburn hair behind her ear, placing her fingers back around her cool glass. There were quite a few attractive men and women at the club that evening, but none stood out in a way that encouraged her to leave the safety of her seat.

"Granger?"

Hermione spun around quickly, the familiarity of the voice startling her. Pulling out the barstool beside her own, an all-too-familiar face took a seat and motioned for the bartender.

"M-Malfoy?"

Her heart sank, and suddenly the room was spinning. The music became much too loud, and she felt extremely unstable in her seat. Her cheeks flushed a bright red. Any confidence she'd had while walking into the building was gone. She knew this was a witch and wizard-specific nightclub, but she never really expected to see anyone she knew here, let alone Draco Malfoy. He was older now, his blond hair messy and falling just above his shoulders. Five o'clock shadow stubbled across his defined jaw, and his eyes were the same icy shade of blue she remembered from their time at Hogwarts.

"Um, I must be going, I think I have the wrong address--" Hermione began to stand up, spitting out any excuse she could think of. Wrong address? Of course! And that's why I'm sipping a drink idly. Definitely, in the wrong place, she snapped at herself sarcastically. Cool fingers wrapped gently around her wrist, halting her abrupt attempt at departure. She flushed at the contact and shook her arm free quickly. Her heart thudded quickly against her chest, and she wished she could coax out the same unbridled confidence that she'd entered with.

"Don't be in such a hurry, Hermione," Malfoy's icy eyes caught hers in a heartfelt effort to get her to stay. "We're all adults, I don't care why you're here. But stay, please. Let's catch up."

Hermione's face was red-hot from embarrassment, but she dared a glance into the wizard's gaze, gauging his intentions. He seemed sincere enough in his wanting her to stay. Friendly even. Some part of her wondered what had caused such an obvious change in him in the last year since Hogwarts. He had never been the type to want her around, let alone plead with her to stay. She gently pulled her wrist away from his fingers and nodded hesitantly.

"Fine."