Chapter Four- Dangerous Love
Draco was pacing restlessly in his flat. On his coffee table sat a folder labeled: CONFIDENTIAL. Inside were the details of his mission, a mission that he deemed way too dangerous for Hermione. A mission in which he had begged the Minister to find someone else to accompany him.
Unfortunately, the Minister felt that Hermione was the only one who could pull off the mission. And though it killed him to admit, Draco knew he was right - Hermione was beyond perfect for the job. She had extensive knowledge of dark artifacts, she had firsthand experience with the Death Eaters, and she had him as a partner. The plan was pretty fool-proof. As long as they didn't let their emotions get the best of them.
Suddenly concerned, he grabbed his cloak, pocketed his wand and left his flat in a blur. He hurriedly made his way towards the Ministry of Magic, eliciting a curse when he realized the time. He made a quick turn away from the Ministry, knowing full well she would had left work already. Draco pulled his cloak around his neck and shivered in the cold, before quickly moving in the direction of Hermione's flat. Growling to himself in frustration, he knew it would have been quicker to apparate, but he continued to trudge on his way.
Something from deep within him urged him to move faster… told him that his witch was in danger. Breaking into an all out run, Draco pulled his wand from his pocket and within minutes, he was rounding the corner to her flat.
Hermione was just about to open the front door to enter her her flat, when she felt something attack her wards. She whipped around, her wand at the ready.
"Who's there?" She whispered in the dark.
A dark voice responded, "Filthy little mudblood."
She gasped, remembering all the times she'd heard those hurtful words come from Draco's mouth. Hermione was just about to take a step outside the wards when she heard someone else run up.
"Don't move Hermione!" Draco shouted. "You're safe within your wards."
He came out from the shadows, dressed in all black, with a green scarf wrapped around his neck. Ever the Slytherin, Hermione thought. His wand was also at the ready, although she was certain he had no clue who he was looking for.
At that moment, a red light shot out from the darkness and entered Draco's body.
"No!" Hermione screamed, "Whoever you are, don't hurt him, he's done nothing!"
"Insolent fool! He means everything!" The voice exclaimed, shooting another red light straight at Draco.
He somehow managed to duck in time and the light barely missed him. Hermione started towards him, but he shook his head as agony flashed across his face.
"Get inside the house, Hermione!" Draco's voice, albeit weakened from the attack, still had some force behind it.
Her body and mind set, she shook her head fervently. "I'm not letting you martyr yourself!" Her wand at the ready, she dashed across the street to him. She deflected a spell, causing it to hit the brick wall beside them. Quickly, they ran to her flat, with Hermione sending curses behind her with no exact target. Opening her flat door, she pushed Draco inside and turned around to face her unknown attacker.
"I know you're still there!" She screamed, her eyes searching for something, anything that would give her attacker away. "Show yourself!"
There was a hiss and the voice tainted the air once more, "You'll demand nothing of me mudblood!" A jet stream of red magic soared through the air, somehow penetrating her wards, smashing into the wall beside her door. "Next time," the voice warned darkly, "it will be your pretty little mudblood!"
One last bolt of magic came soaring towards her and Hermione screamed, ducking her head just in time. The wreath that hung on the door exploded into flames and the ash powdered Hermione's bushy hair.
The air that was once thick with magic, thinned and everything stilled. All was quiet. Hermione stood and dusted the ash from her head. She took a deep breath and once satisfied that her attacker had disappeared, she began casting various spells to repair her wards. Once she deemed it safe enough, she went inside. With one last look over her shoulder before shutting the door, she scanned the area in front of her home, she found it unsurprisingly empty, and she was happy she would not have to obliviate anybody's minds.
She heard a groan from inside and remembered all too quickly that Draco was lying in her foyer, with potentially, a very nasty wound. Rushing to his side Draco was hunched over, clutching his sides. Pain etched his beautiful face and his shirt and cloak were tattered and torn from the spell.
Hermione growled out, "What in the bloody hell were you thinking?"
"I was thinking that I would be saving you," he snarled. "St. Mungos. Need healers." He gasped out.
Shaking her head, Hermione quickly ripped open what was left of his shirt. Blood stained his pale skin and there was a very nasty gash from his left pectoral to his right hip bone. Though worried she knew she had seen this before and knew how to treat his wound.
Taking her wand out, she quickly spoke the counter spell, "Vulnera sanetur." She watched as the blood flow began to slow. "Vulnera sanetur." She repeated, and the wound began to knit itself back together. "Vulnera sanetur!" And with the last incantation, the wound began to disappear. She knew that there'd be a terrible scar left behind if she didn't find any dittany.
"Accio dittany!" Her voice trembled as she spoke. A bottle came flying out of nowhere and she quickly poured it on the scar.
Draco squirmed from the pain and screamed out, "Jesus Christ Granger! Are you trying to bloody kill me?"
She stared him hard, her eyes piercing through his. "Oh yes, that's exactly what I'm trying to do! Especially with a damned potion that is known to HEAL!" Her voice rang through the flat and Draco had the presence of mind to shut up.
"We need to get you on the couch," Hermione said matter-of-factly. She cast a levitation charm and Draco's body rose and began moving towards the couch. Ending the spell, he landed gently on the ever-so-fluffy couch. Hermione sat on the floor in front of him and she stared hard at his chest. "You could have died."
He groaned, "Really Granger? You think so?" He swung his arm to hide his face, not wanting her to see the pain he was in with his insides still mending. Despite this he noticed how uncomfortable she looked and he also noticed she was shaking. "I'm sorry." he murmured.
Hermione diverted her eyes to the floor. "You seem to be saying that a lot."
Draco blanched, knowing she was hurting inside, just as much as he was. He stretched his hand out to caress her face, but she moved away.
"I should let Kingsley know." Standing once more, Hermione moved to the fireplace and contacted Kingsley via floo.
Kingsley's face suddenly appeared in the ashes and he coughed, "This had better be an emergency, Miss Granger."
"I'm so sorry to bother you so late Minister, but I'm afraid I was attacked outside my home this evening." Her voice was steady and calm. Draco knew that this was all a front.
Immediately Kingsley's attitude changed. "Are you okay? Was anyone hurt? Did anyone see the attacker?"
"I'm fine, just a little stunned. Draco however, was not so lucky. He was hit with a sectumsempra, but I patched him up." Hermione's voice shook a bit at this, but she quickly regained composure. "I'm afraid nobody saw the attacker."
Kingsley sighed. "That is unfortunate." He saw Hermione shift on her feet and guessed that she might still be a little anxious, "I can send an auror over, if it pleases you?"
Hermione shook her head, "I'll be fine, thank you." She paused for a beat, looked back at Draco and then back at Kingsley. "I need to eat something and should probably get some sleep. I'll brief you in the morning."
Kingsley nodded and said his goodbyes. Draco watched as his witch slumped to the floor and began to sob. He'd have given anything to be able to walk over to her and hold her, however in his present condition, he didn't think he'd be able to. Instead, he spoke.
"Granger, come here." Draco's voice was gruffer than he'd wanted, but it seemed to work, as Hermione picked herself up and shuffled over to the couch. Draco pulled her down into his arms carefully, trying to prevent her from touching a sore area, and held her as she sobbed.
He stroked her hair and whispered over and over again, "It's going to be alright. I've got you."
Hermione's small body was shaking in his arms. She was going over the situation again and again in her mind, the fact that she could have almost lost Draco was on repeat, pounding inside her skull. She couldn't believe that he had stuck his neck out for her so stupidly, so… heroically.
"What were you thinking?" She mumbled.
Draco's hand stilled and his breath caught, "What do you mean?"
"Why were you there?" Hermione stated more firmly.
"You don't ... ?" he asked incredulously. "You don't think that I'm a part of this do you?"
Her eyes searched his, but she already knew the answer. "No, of course not."
Draco breathed a sigh of relief. "If you must know, I came because I decided that there was no way you were going to do the assignment. It's just too dangerous." Hermione opened her mouth to argue, but he shushed her. "I know, mia. You are perfectly capable of taking care of yourself." His hand cupped her face and his fingers stroked her jaw bone.
Mia, Hermione thought. He hadn't called her that since … well, it had definitely been a long time.
"Draco, I…" She started, automatically turning her body into his, she placed her hand gently on his chest to support herself and her eyes found his and she was startled by the passion she saw.
"Mia, tes yeux, j'en reve jour et nuit," his voice was soft and his eyes searched hers. Surely she knew… She just had to understand. "Je t'adore."
Draco leant in, his thumb tracing her bottom lip and her breath fanned across his face. Pulling her ever closer, his lips finally touched hers and he kissed her like he'd never kissed her before. Like he'd never kissed anyone. He had expected her to fight it. Yet, he was pleasantly surprised to find her lips inviting and affectionate. He nipped at her bottom lip and sucked it lightly. She moaned in response and her hands cupped his face, pulling him even closer.
Draco grabbed her leg and hitched it over his hips, all pain forgotten. He wrapped his arm around her more tightly and continued to kiss her sweet, succulent lips. The happiness he gained just from holding her, let alone kissing her sent him over the moon. Draco smiled into his kiss, which caused Hermione to smile in return.
"I've missed you, mia. So very much." He whispered, pulling her against the length of his body.
Hermione's breath was ragged and her lips were swollen, "Draco…"
His finger came up and he hushed her again, "Hermione- I'm not asking for forgiveness right this second. I'm just asking for another chance."
Hermione's eyes widened and her heart quickened in pace. "I'm not sure …"
"Please, mia. I'm begging you," Draco responded.
And he truly was begging. Draco Malfoy was begging. Hermione knew that Draco begged for no one and nothing and she was floored, speechless. Literally.
Her response was nothing more than a small smile and a tiny nod of her head. A smile spread across Draco's lips and he laughed.
"You will not regret this, mia." Draco promised, sealing his promise with a kiss.
I hope not, Hermione thought to herself. I truly hope not. And with that last thought, she threw herself into the kiss and did everything she could to forget what had occurred that evening.
However, there was some niggling in the back of her brain telling her that this wasn't her first encounter with her attacker.
She'd heard that voice before.
A/N: Awww, a kissy scene! Lemme know what ya think. Or there will be no update! .
Many thanks to my beta, endlesslywaiting- You are ballllaaaa.
French: Mia, I dream of your eyes day and night. I adore you.