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Devil's Deal
Chapter 2 – Dire Discussions
Hermione walked into the office slowly, for totally understandable reasons she thought she might be close to a panic attack and this feeling only intensified when she got her first good look at Draco Malfoy. She was so accustomed to seeing his picture in the papers and in magazines that she had completely forgotten how austere he was in reality. He had over the years developed the demeanor of a man who held great power and responsibility. His face was still extremely aristocratically handsome, but now it was stamped with a ruthlessness that was apparent in his direct gaze, stern lips and the arrogant tilt of his head.
He sat reclined in his chair with his long legs stretched under his desk and his robe clad forearms crossed negligently across a wide chest. For all the world he looked completely at ease yet there was such an intensity about him, something indefinable that actually made her pulse quicken. As her eyes met his inscrutable silver ones she had to squelch the urge to turn around and leave. Raising her head a notch, she cleared her throat and began to speak only to realize that she didn't know how to begin addressing this man who inadvertently held the fate of so many lives in his hands.
She saw his eyes roll heavenward and the tightening of his lips as she frantically searched for what she wanted to say.
"What do you want Granger?" he finally asked coldly, his eyes even more piercingly serious than before.
"I want you to forgive Pansy for breaking the betrothal contract" she rushed out automatically, then wished she had started with some more diplomacy when she saw his astounded expression.
"What did you say?" he rasped angrily as he sat up straighter in his chair.
"I… We… would very much appreciate it if you could please forgive Pansy publicly for breaking the betrothal contract." She reiterated emphatically, her gaze unconsciously pleading.
He rose slowly and strode over to the large window behind his desk, effectively turning his back to her.
"This matter is none of your concern Granger. If this is all that you have come for, I suggest you leave now" His reply was clipped and definitely sounded like he had closed the discussion.
"You're wrong, this is my concern, or in case you've forgotten Pansy is now with one of my closest friends" she contradicted him, then again regretted her words as she saw his back instantly stiffen.
"You think I need to be reminded of this incident" he sneered at her, his face furious as he turned to her.
Hermione was now on familiar territory, the reserved, controlled Draco had indeed left her awe-struck, but the angry Draco was someone whom she had been well acquainted with during their bitter rivalries at Hogwarts. She crossed her arms and glared at him, refusing to be discouraged.
"I know that your pride was wounded because of Pansy and Ron's behaviour but couldn't you just put all of it in the past and move on by forgiving her. If you had cared even a little about her you would have already released her from this contract" she pointed out rationally.
"Don't ever presume to judge my actions or character Granger, because you know nothing about me" he informed her harshly before turning back to look out of the window.
"The Hunters are getting closer to them, if you released her she would be able to return here without the fear of recriminations from the law or her family. You and Pansy have been friends for a long time, please won't you help her?" she pleaded with him.
"What you really mean is that I would be saving your precious Ron" he turned to face her and she noticed that he had become coldly remote again.
"Well that would also happen" she agreed quietly
"So in effect you want me to save the woman who betrayed me and the man she betrayed me with" he scoffed at this notion. "And what Granger, should I expect in return for performing such a selfless and noble deed?" he finished sarcastically.
Hermione contemplated this seriously before answering him. Her voice was clear and resolute as she told him
"Anything, that is within my power to give to you".
If he was surprised by her response he hid it well, as he only raised one platinum eyebrow and stared at her assessingly. Hermione felt thoroughly uncomfortable by his frank scrutiny.
"Anything?" he questioned shifting his position to nonchalantly lean against the window ledge.
"Anything within reason" she hastily attempted to clarify.
"Granger, I'm sure you're well aware that anything and within reason are on opposite ends of the continuum. Which do you mean?" was his taunting reply.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you? Having me beg for your help?" she seethed at him.
"Immensely" he answered arrogantly although his face remained impassive.
"Well?' he prompted
Hermione thought back to the promise she had made only the night before to Ron's mother, and knew what her answer would be.
"Anything" she said with conviction.
"Interesting" he mused, stroking his chin absentmindedly. "Unfortunately though I am going to have to refuse your offer"
Hermione had most definitely not expected his answer to be a refusal. How was she to proceed now?
"I thought you would relish the idea of having one of the 'Golden Trio' being in your power" she tried to bait him.
"A few years ago perhaps, but as you can clearly see…" he gesticulated to his opulent office "I already have everything that I could need, and I only want women in my life for one reason" he finished a tad crudely.
Hermione gasped at his implication, and he smirked noticing her reaction. The entire mood of the conversation was twisting and Hermione felt as if she was becoming disoriented by the change.
"Tell me, by Anything, were you also offering yourself to me in a physical sense?" he questioned insolently
"Of course not" she denied fiercely.
"Well then clearly we have nothing more to discuss" he told her seriously as he started walking back to his desk.
"Wait" she said frantically and moved quickly around his desk to stand between him and his chair.
She was at once aware of their differences in size as his tall, lean body seemed to dwarf her smaller frame. There was something thrilling about being this close to him. What the hell was happening to her? She thought disgustedly, and then looked up into his face.
His expression was both irritated and weary and Hermione had the distinct perception that his outrageous propositioning had been his way of forcing an end to their negotiations. Unfortunately for him, he had failed to take into consideration her temerity to acquire his assistance through any means necessary.
"If I did mean in a physical sense, would you consider that enough to forgive Pansy?" she asked him uncertainly, not giving herself a chance to contemplate the implications of what she was offering.
Now he did in fact look incredulous "You are so desperate for my help that you would have sex with me over this?"
She nodded her head slowly, knowing that she was willing to sacrifice everything she had to keep the baby and her friends safe.
Draco's face turned harsh as he stepped closer to her "I only take willing women to my bed"
"I ….. I would be willing" she assured him hesitantly, and was surprised to find that she wasn't completely lying. She had expected that the idea of sleeping with Draco would revolt her, but she was alarmed to find that it was having a slightly opposite effect.
"Have you gone mad" he asked quite abruptly, all traces of his insolent façade gone. But she disregarded his question, while trying to press her advantage.
"If I slept with you would help Pansy?" she questioned directly.
"If you became my mistress maybe I would consider it" he responded gravely but there was something about his attitude that let her know that he was trying to shock her into stopping this discussion. And he most assuredly had shocked her.
"For how long would I need to be your mistress?" was her apprehensive reply.
He pretended to consider it and then shrugging almost imperceptibly told her "A month".
Again a ludicrous answer meant to change her mind about her request.
Hermione had to keep her anxiety down at his declaration; a month was thirty days longer than she had thought this 'transaction' would last. And quite unexpectedly she felt her false bravado slip away. She looked up at him with haunted eyes.
"Are those your final terms?" she asked cautiously
"No I have one more condition. You're not usually the type of woman I take as my mistress. If you can convince me that you're good enough for me to keep you as my mistress for a month, then and only then will I publicly forgive Pansy' he declared dispassionately
Hermione had an encyclopedic knowledge of Spells and Magical Creatures; she could translate ancient texts and could answer almost any magical question posed to her. But she had absolutely no knowledge of how to be a mistress, she didn't even know how to be a girlfriend.
Never had she felt so shell shocked. Everything became surreal and she wondered vaguely if she was about to faint. She looked at Draco and saw the triumphant gleam in his eyes and knew he thought that he had finally succeeded in putting her off her request for help. She stood for long moments looking at him in silence, not knowing what she should do.
"Could I have some time to think about this" she finally asked softly
He watched her shrewdly then nodded his head. She had made her way nearly to the door when his voice stopped her.
"Why is this so important to you?" he demanded to know. "They've been keeping themselves well hidden and within the next three months her father is going to call of the hunt. Why are you doing this?"
"Is he really intending to call of the hunt?" she asked bemused, and at his affirmative nod, she felt a flare of relief. But unfortunately for them three months was time they didn't have.
"Do you have anything to do with the hunt?" she asked unexpectedly.
"Of course not" he hissed disgustedly. It was this reaction that convinced Hermione that maybe he should know the entire story, especially since he and Pansy did have a past together.
"Pansy is eight months pregnant" she told him unflinchingly "and she wants to come home".
His expression was genuinely dazed as he took in this information, and she wondered for a split second if she too had looked that way last night when she had received the news. Inexplicably she wanted to tell him something to ease his shock, but he recovered himself very quickly.
"On your way out Granger, could you ask my secretary to come in here?" he requested absentmindedly as he strode to his desk and began writing quickly across a parchment. As far as dismissals went that was perhaps the coldest one Hermione had ever received. She stood looking at him until finally he glanced up and realized she was still there. At his raised eyebrows she quickly exited his office and after informing his secretary of his message, apparated to the safety of her home.
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