Dragon's Embrace
Chapter One
"Hermione, you have to come with me! You can't let me go alone!" Susan Bones pleaded. Hermione Granger sighed. She had been friends with Susan for long enough to realize that this wasn't something she could get out of. Anyway, it wasn't like she didn't want to go. She had actually been thinking about going ever since the invite arrived at Headquarters. The annual Malfoy masquerade party was always the event of the season, though the invite had only been extended to non-purebloods since the death of Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy. Their death eater values had always sworn them against anyone who didn't have the purest blood, which also meant inter-family breeding. Just the thought made Hermione cringe in disgust. However, rumor had it that Draco Malfoy had hung his prejudice out to dry and he no longer judged a person by their blood status. But that was just what she heard. Because he had changed sides in the war didn't mean that he didn't still have his old views on how society should be run. Any normal person would want society to be rid of deranged killers who would murder anyone who was against him, so it was fitting that he changed sides. Going to his party would help to bridge the gap between purebloods and others of muggle descent.
"Hermione!"
"Alright! I'll go!" Hermione cried in exasperation. Susan grinned and hugged her friend.
"Great! I'll pick you up at eight!" Hermione rolled her big brown eyes and waved as Susan left. What was she going to tell Harry and Ron? Just two days before she had heard them laughing at the concept of being caught at Malfoy's party. What were they going to say to her when she told them she was going? It would be an interesting night.
"No!" Ron declared vehemently. "You can't go to Malfoy's house! It's one thing for him to help us in the war. But to go to his house? It's unheard of!" It was six-thirty and the boys stood outside of Hermione's room in the flat they shared.
"It's not like I'm going to have a cup of tea with him, Ronald!" Hermione responded hotly. "It's a party. And you and Harry don't have the right to tell me whether or not I can go. I am twenty-one years old and I may do as I please. So if you'll excuse me, I'm going to get ready." And she promptly closed the door in their faces. As she crossed the room Hermione ruffled up her bushy brown hair and sighed. "Men!" She huffed. Hermione opened up the closet door and reached all the way into the back. When her hands came in contact with the vinyl of the dress bag she smiled and pulled the bag out. As she unzipped the vinyl bag, her fingers trembled a little. She had not looked inside at the dress since she pulled it from her mother's closet the week after she died. Her eyes teared up as she ran her fingers across the white lace and silk of her mother's wedding dress. She pulled it out and held it up to her body in front of the mirror. It was the most beautiful dress she had ever seen. Hermione quickly put the dress back into the bag to continue getting ready.
She emerged from the shower a half hour later, smelling of vanilla and roses and her long hair dripping down her back. Hermione put on the dress and looked in the mirror. Her mother was a few inches taller than Hermione's 5'3 stance and was a little pudgier on her wedding day. After taking her wand out of the drawer in her nightstand she pointed her wand at herself and muttered the incantation to make the dress tighter around the waist and shorter so that she wouldn't fall. Hermione dusted her bare neck and shoulders with scented shimmer powder. Another glance in the mirror told her that the dress hugged her curves perfectly. The bodice clung tightly to her bosom and waist, pushing up her breasts and making her appear more busty than she was. The tulle fanned out from the waist and it had a layer of lace embroidered with silk flowers laying on top. Hermione opened her top drawer and pulled out a black velvet box. She took out the simple white gold necklace with a small diamond set in it. She then reached up and pulled the white Mardi Gras mask that she got in America off of her mirror where it rested and tied it around her face. For her finishing touches, she curled her thick brown hair so that it lay in ringlets down her back with small white rose pins scattered throughout.
"Hermione! Susan is here!" Harry's voice called from the living room. Quickly, Hermione pulled on her white pumps, grabbed her purse and hurried out to meet her friend.
"Susan! We don't know anyone here!" Hermione whined. The two women had been at the party for all of ten minutes and already Hermione was complaining.
"I do. Hey, Terry!" Susan called, and she got up from the sofa and strolled across the room toward her old friend.
"Great. Now I'm alone." Hermione muttered to herself as she leaned her chin onto her hand. After a moment or two, she felt the couch sink under the weight of a human body. She looked up to find a young man seated next to her. He looked like he was trying to be discreet by hiding behind his simple black mask and black fedora.
"A pretty girl like you shouldn't be all alone." His voice was low and gravelly and it sent tingles down Hermione's spine. "Care to dance?" Hermione smiled at the stranger and nodded. She had no idea who this man was, but he was polite, and from what she could see of his face, he was very handsome. As the two danced, Hermione could feel his muscles beneath his thin black shirt. Her hand felt tiny in his and his hand on her hip was sending unexplained tingles throughout her body. Suddenly, he leaned down so that his face was next to hers. She could feel his warm breath on her face as he whispered in her ear.
"What is your name?"
"I'd rather not disclose that information." She whispered back with a smile.
"Is that so?" He said, not unkindly. Hermione only nodded in response. The song changed from the slow, melodic tune to a more upbeat rhythm. "Let's go somewhere so we can talk." The stranger suggested and Hermione nodded once again. He took her hand and led her out of the hustle and bustle of the ballroom. They walked down the corridor and passed a few idle wizards and witches, but it was clear that the ballroom was where the real party was. He pushed open a set of large oak doors and she followed him into what appeared to be the library. "I've decided that I'm going to call you Belle, because you are clearly the belle of this ball." Hermione blushed and muttered her thanks. It was obvious that he wanted to kiss her.
"And what shall I call you?" Hermione asked coyly as he moved in closer. She wanted to kick herself for how hard she was flirting with this man she didn't even know.
"You can call me by my name," He told her as he removed his hat and mask. "Draco Malfoy." (perfect place to stop!! but i'm feeling generous) Hermione's eyes widened in shock as he moved closer. What am I doing? Why aren't I pushing him away in repulsion? Stop him!But Hermione's body would not cooperate with her mind. She was feeling things that she hadn't felt since before she broke up with Ron two years previous. Before she knew what was happening, Malfoy's lips were on hers and she didn't want him to stop. But after a glorious moment when the world seemed to stop turning, he pulled away.
"Please tell me who you are?" Draco whispered, as he reached up for her mask. Hermione shook her head and held her mask in place. She just wished he would kiss her again. "Why not?"
"I just can't. I'm sorry." She responded. He did not reply, but he lowered his lips onto hers again and again and again. His lips moved from her mouth to her cheek, to her ear and down her jawbone. His large rough hands caressed her sides, moving up towards her breasts and back towards the zipper. Hermione couldn't believe she was letting this happen. Ron didn't even get this far until three months into their relationship, and this man, the man who was her sworn enemy for the better part of the past ten years had reached this point within three hours of getting to know her. However, she didn't want him to stop. Draco's hands did things to her that Ron's could never dream of. She didn't want him to stop. He pulled down the zipper of her dress and the bodice pooled around her waist in a puddle of silk and lace. He ran his hands over her lace covered breasts, not daring to unhook the clasp. Draco's lips found hers again in frenzied passion, his hands running all over her body, feeling every inch of smooth skin. Their tryst was getting more and more heated, in their haste, neither noticed the white gold pendant fall to the floor. It was when Draco's hand slipped into her underwear that Hermione knew that they had to stop before they did something in the heat of the moment that they would regret.
"Stop." Hermione panted, as she fixed her dress and zipped it up. She straightened out her mask and smoothed out her dress. "I can't do this. I don't want to do this in a moment driven by too much wine. Maybe we'll meet up again when the time is right. I'm sorry." Her face was apologetic as she gave him one last kiss and ran from the room, leaving Draco shirtless and bewildered. He hung his head in disappointment although he knew she was right. Just then, something on the floor caught his eye. It looked like a piece of jewelry. He bent over and picked it up to examine it. It was hers! The mystery woman! This news excited him to no end. He pulled his wand from his pocket and said the incantation to identify the owner of the the necklace.
"Fortuna," He said in an excited whisper. His heart pounded as he waited for the wisps of smoke to spell out the name. His eyes widened in shock at the unexpected name.
It read, Hermione Granger.