He released her lips, and she murmured his name, searching for him. When he wouldn't kiss her again, her eyes flickered open, and she saw him staring down at her.

His fingers slid an inch under her shorts. "Can I?"

She tightened her arms around his shoulders and nodded. He pressed their foreheads together and watched her face as he nudged one of her thighs open.

A pop! from a foot away.

As she knew it would. As it had every day since her birthday whenever their snogging escalated.

"Master is excusing Boppy, but—!"

"Go. Away," Draco gritted out, screwing his eyes shut.

Boppy gave a pitiful whine. "But—but—!"

"Boppy, I swear to Merlin—"

Hermione giggled. The expression on Draco's face was achingly familiar. Like he'd been beaten to the Snitch or watched Crabbe steal his last treacle tart at dinner.

She was beyond embarrassment at this point. Two days ago, Draco's knee had just slipped between her thighs when Plumb popped in with tea service, two hours early. Yesterday, as she'd sat on the table with Draco standing between her legs, she got as far as running her hands up under his shirt as he palmed her breasts over her top. But just as he'd leaned her backwards across the table, Remmy appeared to list the dinner menu for Draco's approval.

"But Boppy comes to say that Master Lucius is home, and is wanting a word—"

Draco's eyes flew open. The heat that had been boiling inside of her abruptly disappeared.

His throat bobbed as he stared down at her. "Tell my father I'll be there in thirty minutes—"

"Not with Master Draco! With Miss Hermione!"

They both whipped their heads to look at Boppy, who was dancing from foot to foot anxiously. Draco pulled away.

"Regarding what?"

"Master didn't say!" Boppy squeaked. "Master says to fetch Miss Hermione for talking."

Her mouth went dry. Hermione extricated her legs from underneath him, standing and smoothing down her clothes. Draco stood swiftly, straightening his clothes as well, and stepped slightly in front of her before gesturing for Boppy to lead the way.

Boppy wrung his hands. "Master says only Miss Hermione."

She felt Draco simmering in front of her. He opened his mouth to snap at his elf, but she placed her hand on his elbow. "It's alright." She moved around him and looked up into his eyes. "I'll be back shortly."

He sighed an aggravated breath, and his jaw slowly relaxed. Hermione squeezed his arm and followed Boppy out the library doors. Her mind started spinning about Switzerland, and Naricssa, and why Lucius would first ask to see her after being gone for almost two weeks—

She blinked, trying to suppress her thoughts. It was harder than usual this time. She'd been neglecting her Occlumency practice lately, too distracted by Draco and their research.

The small elf shuffled down the hallway in front of her, and Hermione was surprised to see they were headed to the kitchens. Boppy led her down the short set of steps, and gestured for her to duck under the tiny doorway and into the kitchen before he popped away.