Title: Under the Dragons Protection
Author: Ms. Dependent
Rating: PG-13 - R
Disclaimer: It's not mine. JKR rox me sox
AN- I have completely ignored HBP in this, though I do love the book. This is post Hogwarts about 4-5 years later.
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Chapter 1
Hermione Granger stared at the man who might be trying to kill her.
She shifted the slots of her window blinds slightly to get a view of the dark London street down below her. The yellowish glow cast by the old fashioned gas lamp fought a losing battle with the cool April night.
The man sat motionless on the bench across the street, his face in the shadows.
He'd been there last night, too.
She'd noticed. She made a point of noticing. More than four years as a member of the Magical Law Enforcement Squad did that to a person. She'd been a lot more naïve out of Hogwarts.
A nice research job should have been the next rung on the ladder. Her family had certainly expected it of her. And her best friends, who she helped defeat Voldemort, earning themselves an place in the order of Merlin, 1st class along with enough reward money that they would never have to work again, certainly had.
Instead, she'd surprised them all. She'd gone for the tough law enforcement job. And not even as an Auror.
Nope. She'd gone for the down and dirty: putting away the common death-eater wanna-bes that have been terrorizing muggles around England.
She looked down at the man on the bench. Of course she would surprise everyone more if she wound up dead in her apartment, cursed by the mystery man sending her death threats. She didn't want to make that her encore.
She held her breath while the man on the bench shifted. As he stood up, she strained to get a better view but couldn't make out his facial features in the dark. What she could tell is that he was tall and solidly built, with white-blonde hair and dark clothes.
She watched as he scanned the street up and down and then made his way toward the house. Was he heading for her?
Her heart began to pound, her breath catching in her throat. GET OUT YOUR WAND! the rational part of her mind screamed.
The man below passed under a street lamp and her mind pulled the emergency break on her thoughts
She knew that face.
Suddenly fear was replaced by anger. Not the simmering variety of anger, either, but a full-blown boil. The type that Harry or Ron would have recognized as a sign to dive for cover.
She headed for the staircase of the redbrick townhouse that she called home, heedless of the fact that she was dressed for bed in a short silk slip and matching robe. When she got down stairs—the back of her mind taking note that she hadn't heard a knock or bell—she undid the locking spell on the front door and yanked the door open without ceremony.
"Hello, Granger."
Hermione felt the same rush of energy she always did at this man's presence, quickly replaced by an undercurrent of pulsing tension.
He had a lithe but muscular physique, one which usually reduced women to giggles and flirtatious banter. But not her. They had too much of a history for that, and she doubted his presence on her doorstep tonight was a mere coincidence.
She crossed her arms and snapped, "Lost, Malfoy? The last time I checked this was too much of a muggle neighborhood for pure-bloods like you."
He had the audacity to look amused, his gaze raking her. "And your still the newly discovered diamond. Just like I remembered."
"If you know anything a bout diamonds, you'll remember there the hardest stone around."
"Oh, I've known about diamonds longer than you, Granger," he said, tapping his finger to the tip of her nose as he sauntered inside without invitation, forcing her to take a step back. "And I've discovered they're a choice gift for women in our class."
She yanked her mind from the image of Malfoy picking out diamonds for his girlfriends. Probably at someplace exclusive that even with her new money she would never be able to get into.
She slammed the door shut behind him and muttered the locking spell. "Make yourself at home." Sarcasm was easier than thinking about him looming in her dark house with no company but he and the turbulent feelings he unerringly evoked in her. "I'm sure you'll tell me in your own good time just what you were doing studying my house in the middle of the night."
"What makes you think I was studying anything?" He peeled of his muggle jacket and tossed it onto a nearby chair.
She rubbed her chin, pretending to contemplate that as she followed him up into the living room and watched him turn an a lamp. "Oh, I don't know. . . could it be the fact that you were sitting in that park across the street, watching my house for the last half-hour?"
She watched as he glanced around the living room. Framed photographs were every were, the ones of her friends were moving and waving, while the ones of her family stay still. She felt exposed and vulnerable, her life on display in so many telling snapshots.
She moved into the townhouse after selling her condo last year. Her best friend, Ginny, who had taken up a muggle obsession to rival her fathers had helped her decorate with a even mix of muggle and wizard style.
He turned back to her. "Nice digs." He bent down and gazed at a picture of her in a bikini on the beach in the Caribbean, laughing back at the camera as Ginny tried to make her wear muggle swimming fins. "You filled out nicely, Granger, once you finally got through puberty."
She gritted her teeth. Despite the fact that Draco Malfoy had joined the trio after befriending Harry and Ron during the war. Though Harry and Ron were like brothers to her she never felt comfortable thinking of Draco as one. He was hardly her friend. Impatiently, she asked, "Why are you here? And more importantly, why were you lurking outside my house so late on a Thursday night?"
He straightened and shoved his hands in his pockets, his jaw hardening. "Did I scare you? Did you think I was that piece of scum who's been owling you those nasty little love notes?"
"No!" She realized a second to late that the vehement denial sounded exactly like the bald-faced lie it was, but his mere presence had set her on edge. She supposed one of her friends—probably Harry—had mentioned to him the threats she's been getting.
He lifted an eyebrow, his tension easing a fraction. "what? Never thought you'd be glad to see me instead?" His lips twisting into his legendary smirk.
"Get real." In fact, she had been relieved it was him in the split second before anger had step in. "And you're evading the question. What are you doing here?"
He walked over and leaned against the back of the couch, his legs stretched out in front of him, feet crossed. "Just doing my job"
"Just--" She stopped as an unwelcome thought intruded and her eyes narrowed.
He cocked his head. "you were always a quick study, Granger. Though, I have to confess it is fascinating to watch the wheels turn in that cute little head of yours. I believe all you are missing is the red hair. You've got a temper to rival Ron's."
"Get out."
She watched his eyes narrow and his lips set in a firm line. "Now is that anyway to treat the guy who's here to protect you?"
She stood into the room and whirled back toward him once she got to the fire place. She couldn't believe this was happening. "I don't know who hired you, Malfoy," she said crossing her arms, "and, frankly, I don't care. You may own the best security firm in the magic world, but your not wanted or needed here, got it?"
Pushing away from the couch, he folded his arms, looking as easy to move as a boulder up a mountain. "Based on what I've heard, I'd say I'm definitely needed around here. As to whether I'm wanted," he shrugged, "I've been asked to do a job and its going to get done."
Want. Her mind zeroed in on that one word, then quickly backed away. Whatever she felt for Draco, that certainly wasn't an apt description.
True, with silver eyes framed by long, thick lashes and white blonde hair flowing around his face, he was model material. But her mind was all overshadowed by the fact he was condescending and annoying. Not to mention an untrustworthy snitch.
She hadn't seen him since Harry and Ginny's wedding a few months back, but there paths hadn't crossed much lately. He is as familiar to her as a member of her family. He, on the other hand doesn't have any family Having lost both his parents to the war before they graduated from Hogwarts. Recently he's spent most of the holidays with the Weasleys.
She'd placed her hands on her hips. "There's no way you can do this job if I'm telling you that you can't."
He rubbed his chin, seeming to contemplate that for an instant. "Since the Potters still own this house," he nodded around him, "because you haven't gotten around to closing the deal with him yet to purchase it, I'd say you're wrong about that. So, first thing we're going to do is make sure the security at the bachelorette pad is up to date."
The familiar Urge to throttle Draco Malfoy was coming over her again. True, she didn't own the townhouse, but that was a mere technicality. The house stood empty for 3 months after Ginny convinced Harry to buy it, But Hermione had fallen in love with it and offered to buy it from them. In any case, she didn't need a bodyguard. "If I need protection, I'll get it."
His lips thinned, his gaze holding hers. " That won't be necessary, because I'm planning to stick to you like a Australian to a Billywag until we get to the bottom of who's been sending you death threats howlers and cursed mail."
I can take care of my self. I spotted you lurking around outside on that bench, didn't I?"
The thin line curved up into a humorless smile. "What about that guy standing on the street corner? Don't tell me you missed him?"
She had.
He raised an eyebrow, seeming to read her silence for the admission it was.
"You can't be sure that was in anyway connected to me." She knew she was right but never the less her heart tightened.
"You're right, I can't. But he popped out of there faster than a snidget as soon as I decided to test my theory by crossing the street."
"And you didn't stop him"
He shrugged. "how could I be sure he was after you?" he asked, tossing her words back at her.
At her impatient look, he added, "Anyway, It was too late, Before I could take out my wand he had already apparated. So, instead, I came to your door thinking at least I'd get thanked by the damsel in distress for running off the bad guy."
"Now that you've run him off, would you mind running off yourself?" Even if she needed extra protection she could arrange it herself. The last thing she wants is a bodyguard hired by her overprotective friends, not to mention how distracting and annoying Draco was.
His brows drew together. "You really don't get it do you, princess?"
She pretended to look bored. "I suppose you're going to explain so that I can 'get it'" She stood her ground as he strode towards her. If he thought he was going to intimidate her, he had another thing coming.
"You suppose right." He stopped mere inches away.
She hat to tilt her head up to keep eye contact with him and caught the muscle tensing in his jaw. She ought to take perverse satisfaction that, as much as he unsettled her, she seemed to have the uncanny ability to annoy him as well.
"Working for the Law Enforcement Squad may give you the idea that you know about dark arts," he growled, "but you don't." He looked her over. "which leads me to wonder why you didn't stick with your little research hobby everyone at school expected you would be first in line to volunteer for. Why bother with the Squad?"
She gritted her teeth and begged for patience even though outrage bubbled in side her. "This isn't a hobby. It's a career."
She knew he had a rough childhood, growing up to fast and being forced into Voldemorts service until his parents died. But that didn't give him the right to tweak her nose about the fact that she compared to him, had everything come easy. He never played that card with anyone else.
Malfoys eyes narrowed. "You've made a career out of looking for a thrill, haven't you, Hermione? I've wondered why you cant just take your rewards and settle down."
She glanced around for something to throw, then decided it would be a pity to waist some heirloom against his hard head. And, besides, she'd be playing into every preconception he had about her. "so sure you know it all, don't you? Except, guess what? I'm no longer some teenage girl whose plans you can ruin."
He looked at her accusingly, his silver eyes darkened. She could tell from the flare of his nostrils that he had his temper on a very short leash.
"Still can't forgive me for that one, can you?"
She arched her brow and ignored the way his nearness was coaxing every cell in her body into oversensitive awareness. "Don't flatter yourself."
He had the height by a good six inches over her five-foot-eight frame, but she was used to holding her own against Harry and Ron who similarly bested her. "Saying that I can't forgive you implies I still care about what happened, which I don't."
His lips thinned. "Yeah and you don't seem to have learned a lesson from it either."
"Oh, I learned," she countered. "I learned I couldn't trust you."
"You were a naïve seventeen-year-old kid who thought she could do something herself that she couldn't handle. What did you think, that I would let you walk into danger all by yourself."
"And you weren't my keeper!" She didn't add that she was relived then when he showed up with Harry and Ron to help her out, But was angered that he saw him only as a little girl who cant do anything herself.
"Aloud, she said, "I'd say you're just as guilty as I am, Draco, of not learning lessons from the past. You're still acting like my keeper when your not."
He finally seemed to be pushed over the edge. "Damnit! Are you that stubborn that you won't accept help when you need it? When your life may be in danger?"
"Stubborn?" She tilted her head to the side. "Seems to me you could write a book an that subject."
She started to brush past him but he grabbed her arm and forced her gaze to his. His expression was stormy, his brows drawn together and his lips compressed. "Stubborn, thickheaded. . ."
She braced her hands against his chest. "Likewise," she retorted. They were practically nose to nose, and beneath the adrenaline pumping through her veins a little thrill of excitement intruded having finally shaken his control.
His head swooped down then, cutting off her gasp of surprise as he seized her lips in an angry kiss. His lips moved over hers with hard pressure, and, when she would have jerked away, his hand came up to the back of her head to anchor her in place.
"Mmm. . . . !"
Back before the trust incident, she'd admit to dreaming about what it would be like to be kissed by Draco Malfoy. But none of the scenarios had been like this. He kissed the way he did everything: with a cocky confidence that took no prisoners.
When they finally pulled away, their breathing was rapid as eyes met. His silver ones challenged, as if he was daring her to make some flippant comment about what he'd done and what invisible lines had been crossed.
Her mouth opened to accept the dare, but when his gaze shot downward and narrowed, she clamped her lips together again. The tense moment stretched between them. She was acutely aware of how close he was, of the leashed energy emanating from him.
And then, without knowing exactly how or why it happened, she was in his arms again and his lips were on hers in an instant and she was responding the way she used to dream about, except now she could do a little real-life comparison.
His lips, for one thing, were softer and smoother then they looked. They slid over hers, molding and caressing, coaxing a response. His hands didn't roam, instead they exerted a subtle pressure between her shoulder blades and at the middle of her back.
He didn't make a sound, but focused all his concentration on giving and receiving pleasure from the strokes of his lips against hers. Whereas his first kiss had been angry, this one seduced.
Her lips parted beneath his and his tongue slid into her mouth to stroke against hers, inviting her to respond. The evening shadow on is jaw was a rough caress on her soft skin.
He pulled her closer, flush up against him, as she was caught up in the rush of feeling that had burst between them.
When his hand slid down and cupped her bottom to pull them closer together so that their bodies were in intimate contact, alarm bells went off in her head. She grasped his shoulders, intent on pushing him back, when she realized the ringing wasn't only in her head.
The phone rang again, insistently, and Draco set his hands on her shoulders to steady her as they broke apart.
Flustered, she glanced around the living room to determine where the ringing cordless was located.
She spotted it peeking form under a throw pillow on the couch and hesitantly picked it up. Her parents were the only ones who ever called her on it and it was odd for them to be calling at this time of night. "Hello?" Her voice was still husky from arousal.
"I'm coming for you." The voice at the other end of the line was a little raspy and hoarse.
"Who is this?"
Lay off your cases at the Ministry or you'll end up dead."
Her hand tightened on the receiver. She knew she had to keep him talking to get more clues. "I don't scare easily."
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Draco tense and his brows draw together. She turned away as he strode toward her.
There was a grim chuckle on the phone line. "I'm willing to bet there are a lot of people who would pay a nice sum of money to get you back—dead or alive."
Suddenly the receiver was torn from her hand. "touch her and I'll obliterate you like the bad memory you will be." Draco's voice was clipped and deadly.
Hermione guessed the line must have gone dead because Draco had taken out his wand and whispered a spell at the phone. A few seconds later he tossed the phone in the chair with a disgusted look on his face. "Should have known it wouldn't be that easy to trace."
"Why did you do that?" she demanded, bracing her hands on her hips. "You didn't even give me a chance to try to draw him out."
"Draw him out?" he asked incredulously. "Forget it, honey. You may work for the Squad but who's had a lot more experience with criminals. This guys a wily bastard. He's only going to be drawn out when he comes for your pretty neck."
"There's no need to be crude," she snapped.
"What did he say?"
"He warned me to lay off my cases at the Ministry."
"And?"
"And what?"
"What else?"
Seeking a distraction she adjusted a pillow on the couch. "And he implied that kidnapping was in the cards." She didn't add the part about a ransom to get her back, dead or alive. No use adding more fuel to Draco's bonfire.
Draco cursed. "I'm bunking down here."
End of chapter 1
AN-please review this is my first fanfiction and I would appreciate anything anyone has to say. But don't be too mean!