This chapter is dedicated to my wonderful new friend, Lolita lovegood, as motivation for her to get through her finals.
The world according to Hermione Granger was currently spinning like a portkey; on top of all the other crazy happenings present in her new Mistress lifestyle, she now found herself in an assembly line in the middle of the Manor's drawing room. Though, currently, it had been transfigured to look more like a brothel. There was a multitude of large colorful pillows and tables adorned with various sex toys (many of which, Hermione didn't recognize). To make matters worse, Pansy and Blaise Zabini were looking her over like she was a juicy piece of dragon hide. Blaise's appearance had not changed a sickle since his days at Hogwarts: tall, dark and handsome, every women's fantasy – you know, if they could get past the racist git part. Alternatively, his wife Pansy had aged rather nicely (Hermione hated to admit). She wore her straight black hair long and balanced out that pig nose of hers with two studded piercings above her right eyebrow. She'd also grown into a petite, womanly figure that looked rather nice alongside her fit counterpart. Her personality, on the other hand –
"What, Frizzy, you have a magic cunt or something? Why Draco would waste his money on you, I'll never know." – remained devastatingly the same.
"Pans, be nice," Draco warned as he watched his old friend move on from Hermione to Luna.
"Ugh… no," she said, dismissing Luna on sight. Ginny was next, but before Pansy could give the redhead a proper appraisal –
"I call, Weasley," her husband said. He stared deep into Ginny's hazel eyes, she shivered despite herself.
"Don't worry love, I don't want your precious ginger. I'm much more interested in Angie over here." Pansy stood, almost a head shorter than Angelina, stroking her lean, sculpted arms. "Salazar, I love quidditch." She gave Angelina a flirtatious grin, exposing a beautiful set of white teeth beneath slightly plumped lips. Angelina couldn't help but smile back.
"You know, you look like less of bitch when you smile," Angelina said, frankly. "You should do it more often." Another torturous Pansy grin, then Angelina watched the young witch suckle lightly on her lower lip. The quidditch star could do nothing but stare with rapt attention.
"Impress me, and I'll consider it," Pansy said. She shamelessly pulled her shirt over her head and dropping it at Angelina's feet.
Angelina watched as Pansy sauntered over to one of the pillow beds in the corner. Her eyes followed the slow, sensual movements of the intricate snake tattoo on her back, wanting desperately to see where it ended. Halting Pansy mid-pursuit, Angelina grazed her inner thigh with a feather light touch. The younger witch surrendered without hesitation, leaning into her advances.
"I'm going to make you come so hard," Angelina whispered in her ear, "every time your husband touches you, you'll think of me." A low giggle rolled through Pansy as she nuzzled her head into Angelina's pert breasts.
"Prove it."
Soon enough, every temporary couple seemed to find their space in the room. Angelina and Pansy in the right corner, Blaise and Ginny going at it rather violently in the left and Draco and Astoria at the head of the interesting triangle. Luna and Hermione had been put on display on an elevated center platform as encouragement for the other couples, not that they really needed it.
"I want you to sit on your knees facing them," Angelina said in Pansy's ear. She was pointing in the direction of Luna and a shy Hermione making out. Pansy obeyed with marked hesitation.
"I'd rather watch you," she replied, reaching a hand back and stroking Angelina's thigh. "I get no pleasure out of watching those blood – "
"Shhhh," Angelina interrupted in a soothing tone at her ear. Kneeling behind Pansy, Angelina kissed the crook of her neck and glided her finger tips along the snake tattoo on her spine. Pansy shivered with a low hum as her cheeks warmed and her exposed body prickled at Angelina's touch. "Now, you look at those two women rubbing against each other, mouths intertwined, and tell me it doesn't make you hot." She smoothed her palm over Pansy's torso and brought it between her breast, across her collarbone, up her neck and lightly across the smooth angles of her face.
Goosebumps spread across Pansy's arms as she let herself release into the elder girls advances. She let out a long, shuttering sigh.
"The only thing making me hot, is you," Pansy said. She rolled her head back on Angelina's shoulder and kissed whatever skin she could find.
"Alright, Princess," came Angelina's warm breath on her ear, her sweet lips grazing the Slytherin's lobe as she spoke, her wild curls tickling the back of her neck. "If you can't get passed your Hogwarts feud, fine, be difficult." Angelina could feel Pansy's mood shifting to irritation and had to suppress the urge to laugh. "Don't worry, Princess, I like difficult."
"You better," Pansy bit back.
"But let me make watching worth your while, hmm?" Normally Pansy wouldn't have entertained the idea, but it was hard to refuse Angelina, particularly when every phrase was punctuated with a long, lingering kiss on her neck.
"I'm… listening," Pansy said, short of breath.
"Try thinking about how embarrassed Hermione must be to have to do this in front of you. To be under your control. Look at the red in her cheeks and on that perfect body of hers. Turn your hate into lust, Princess, and enjoy yourself."
Pansy might have argued, might have made some kind of half-hearted rebuttal despite feeling the liquid form in her nickers as she gazed upon her former enemy. But she hadn't the chance, because Angelina soon brushed her practiced lips over the former Slytherin's. For Pansy the kiss was painfully gentle; it had all the makings and the sensuality of a fast and heated snog but none of the speed. A hunger was building within the younger girl and she needed Angelina to quench it. That was not the plan, however, Angelina moved like honey, teasing Pansy with her sweet tongue then pulling away before any chance of a real taste.
"If you don't let me really kiss you – "Pansy began before Angelina deftly sank onto her lap, bringing their lips together again. Pansy's head was spinning as the elder girl rolled their bare bodies together with skill; breast to breast, sensitive nipples teasing each other, Angelina's warm thighs pushing Pansy's together, cunts close enough to feel the heat but not enough to ebb the wanting. Pansy brought a hand down Angelina's back into her nickers, squeezing her soft, round bum. Angelina let out a surprised moan at the contact.
"Gods, look at you," Pansy groaned, claiming Angelina, marking her with her tongue. She tried to spread her legs to relieve some of the building tension there, but the Gryffindor was having none of that.
"Not so fast," Angelina said, it will be worth it – I promise." She grasped onto the nape of pansy's neck before kissing her fully, then pulling back to suck in on her pulse point. The elder girl kissed the red souvenir she'd just created then licked across her collarbone, enjoying the salty pearls of sweat. Pansy's chest heaved beneath her.
"Look at your pretty pink nipples," Angelina popped one into her mouth and let it go, "all erect and happy to see me." Her tongue circled Pansy's areola, spiraling up her nipple until she flicked at its peak.
Pansy's fists clenched the pillow at her side. Her eyes danced from the girl atop her to the sight of Hermione Ganger's head buried deep within Luna's pussy. Her insides clenched and re-clenched as Angelina worked at her breasts, a pool steadily collecting in her center. No one had ever taken this much time and care with Pansy's pleasure before and the buildup was driving her mad.
"Uhh… shit," Pansy cursed as Angelina bit down on a nipple without warning. Unable to handle the ache in her clit, Pansy tried to rub herself over her panties but Angelina grabbed the hand and placed it on her lower back.
"Stop trying to get yourself off," Angelina bucked her hips so it grazed pansy's center. She gasped. "That's my job. You are only allowed to touch me or the pillow," she kissed Pansy beneath her left tit, "understood?"
"What makes you think you're in charge here?" Pansy bit out with an unconvincing stammer.
A warm giggle left Angelina's lips. She finally moved a hand down to slide two fingers into Pansy's sleek slit. "Holy...mmmh" Angelina brought her glassy fingers to pansy's lips, lubricating them with her own juices. Angelina watched Pansy suck the fingers into her mouth, humming at the musky taste of her own arousal.
"Because I am in charge," Angelina said. She pushed her fingers further into Pansy's warm mouth. She picked up the pace, fucking the back of her throat. "I bet you can't wait for me to do this to your cunt."
"mmhhmm," Pansy pleaded around Angelina's fingers.
Removing her hand from between her swollen lips, Angelina ran her palms up and down Pansy curves. She loved the feel of her slight, womanly figure. She kissed between her breasts, on her ribcage, above her navel, on her navel, in that teasing place above the pubic bone.
"Lay back, Princess," Angelina whispered, "Knees up." Pansy did not argue; the anticipation was enough to make her explode. Angelina kissed down Pansy's thigh, rubbing soothing circles into the other. She pulled off her thin nickers, glistening with delicious liquid. "Look at these, you filthy girl." She tossed them to Pansy, who caught them in her mouth. Angelina smiled and lowered herself to the cunt she'd been desperate to taste. She spread open her slit and inhaled. "Fuck, you smell amazing."
Pansy felt her rational mind slowly fade as Angelina's tongue finally made contact with her waiting core. Her licks were slow, of course, lingering too little and teasing too much. But pansy knew the rules, she let Angelina torture her fluttering lips – vowing to repay the favor when it was her turn. She kissed her entrance, rolling her soft lips along the sensitive hole. She dipped the tip of her tongue in, letting it play there as it wanted. Pansy's back arched and hips moved in a circular motion. Her mouth opened into a permanent O as her chest heaved at Angelina's ministrations.
"Oh fuck," She called as Angelina swiped at her clit. The little bead poked out of its hood with her arousal, relieved to finally have some attention. Angelina brought it between her lips and popped it in and out of her mouth, picking up pace only to slow down again. "Huhh huhh huhh," Pansy whimpered as she felt her orgasm grow nearer after Angelina's buildup. Pansy had yet to experience anything like it in her life. Angelina inserted two fingers, pumping in and out of her as she toyed with her pleasure point. As opposed to the gentleness of her mouth, her thrusts were fast and hard, pressing against a spot within Pansy that turned her moans into full blown cries of pleasure. Her knees fell open as Angelina added another finger to twist inside her.
"How's this feel, Princess," Angelina taunted, looking up at her twitching pray. Pansy bit her lip, opened her mouth but only incoherent babbling escaped.
"I didn't catch that?" Angelina intoned, picking up the pace, slamming her fingers against her g-spot with continuous precision.
"Ugh ugh OH FUCK!" As pansy started to come, Angelina removed her fingers from her fluttering cunt and rubbed them furiously on her clit. Pansy bucked and screamed but Angelina did not let up, she was going for the prize. And soon enough, sweet liquid shot from within Pansy and onto Angelina's chest. Pansy's green eyes went wide with shock before they glazed over in complete bliss. Angelina let out a full toothed grin as she slid off Pansy's trembling body and kissed her again.
"I-I've never done that before," Pansy admitted, more timid than Angelina would have thought possible for the former Slytherin. Angelina smiled, listening to the sounds of the other couples in the room.
"I told you, slow and steady wins the race," Angelina said.
"Well look at my husband," Pansy said turning her gaze to the erratic display Blaise and Ginny were presenting. "Don't get me wrong, he's an amazing shag… but slow isn't exactly his style."
Apparently, gentle wasn't his style either. Ginny found this out the hard way, as she lay across his lap accepting spank after rough spank. But then again, Ginny was never really into tenderness in the bedroom. At least she didn't want to be with Blaise Zabini.
"You had about enough, Weasley? Your ass' red as your hair." Blaise said, rubbing soothing circles into her warn cheeks. Truth be told, Ginny was more aroused then she'd been in weeks. As embarrassing as it was, she loved being spanked, she loved the pain, the mortification, the loss of control she held so tightly to. Plus, it made her so fucking wet.
"No," She said desperately, "keep going. I'll tell you when it's too much."
"Tough little witch, aren't you?" He grabbed a handful of her rosy cheek, kissing her before he brought his hand down again. Her back arched at the sting, at the delicious sound of flesh on flesh. She could feel herself gushing a top him and she was too far gone to care.
"Count until you can't speak anymore," he said, "We'll see how brave you are then, little Gryffindor." She squirmed in anticipation, conflicted with the urge to claim back her control and surrender to him completely.
"Do your worst," she challenged. He looked down at her with a mischievous grin as he lifted his hand again and brought it down on her lower cheek.
"Fuck…one," she counted. He gave her two swift slaps to the other cheek. "huh, two...three – AHHH four!"
"Look how into it you are," Blaise teased. "you're going to leave a stain on the pillow. Are you a dirty slut, Weasley?" He spanked her upper right cheek.
"F-five," she stammered, clutching her wand for dear life. Her knuckles white from the intensity of her grip.
"Does your little boyfriend know you like to be spanked like a whore?" Blaise said. He was rubbing circles into her arse again, preparing her for another beating. "Does perfect Potter know about your kinky fantasies?"
Ginny went completely stiff at the mention of Harry. Blaise was a fucking prick for bringing him up. There was another hard spank on her arse.
"Owe – shit!"
"Shit's not a number Weasley," he said. Spank.
"Fuck you. Six, seven." She took a deep breath, blowing her sweaty hair out of her face. Gods, it was so hot in that room. "Hey, don't talk about Harry, OK?" She said. Blaise just laughed, hitting her again.
"Eight," she said through gritted teeth.
"What? He doesn't know how to satisfy you, is that it? The boy who lived can't even fuck his girlfriend right? She has to come – "
"Zabini, I'm serious! Shut the fuck up. OWE."
He brought a series of smacks down on her cheeks without stopping. Her whole arse felt like it was on fire and then, of course, there was always the distant worry that she might come without him even touching her pussy.
"That's why you're here, isn't Weasley? You needed to play with the big bad Slytherins to get off?" That was it.
Ginny pointed her wand at the chair they were on and enchanted, "Evanesco." The chair disappeared and Blaise went toppling to the floor with Ginny on top of him. While he attempted to collect himself, Ginny straddled his naked form, holding his arms above his head with one hand and her wand at his neck with the other.
"Don't mess with me, Zabini," she spat. "I told you not to talk about Harry." With a challenging smile, Blaise ripped his arm from her grasp and brought it to her throat.
"You really think you're stronger than me, Weasley?" His hand around her neck tightened, her cheeks reddened. She moved herself involuntarily closer to the prominent erection pressing at her arse. He slowly rubbed himself against her and she moaned despite herself. "That's right," he said, "don't forget who's in control here, witch."
Coming to her senses, Ginny pressed her wand against his Adam's apple.
"hmmm," she intoned, "unarmed with my wand at your throat. Seems like, that's me."
He flipped the two of them over, plunging his thick cock into her cavern without warning. She let out a strangled gasp, her breathing cut off by his hands around her neck. She wanted to hold her ground but she was so horny from their little spanking game earlier that not much could make her stop at this point. And, Merlin, did he feel good barreling into her. She met his lean, sculpted body with every thrust, giving it back to him just as hard. Animalistic grunts punctuated each deep penetration, sending Ginny spiraling closer to the edge. He roughly grabbed one of her legs and swung it over his shoulder for a better angle. And bloody hell was it all the difference, Ginny whined as he reached new places within her.
"Fuck, you're so big."
"That's right, slut, take it." In and out, hard and fast – that's the way he fucked and Ginny could do nothing but ride it out. "I bet you've never been filled up like this before, have you, Weasley?"
"Ahhh, Gods."
"Tell Potter this is what a real cock feels like."
Somewhere in her haze of desire Ginny managed to grip her wand and cast, "offensio," at his chest. An electric shock went through him and up into Ginny. The sudden jolt too much for her, she came apart with a satisfied smile. Blaise, on the other hand, wailed as she taunted.
"I warned you," she said. He shook from the aftershock. "Look at you, whimpering like a little bitch. If you even think Harry's name, I will do the spell again. And I promise you, it will be worse a second time."
Blaise stared up at her with a mix of hatred and deep wanting. No witch had ever talked to him like that and he didn't quite like how much he umm… liked it. For sake of his pride, he squeezed her wand hand with impressive force. The sudden change took her off guard and the wand went tumbling to the floor with the last bit of her power. He grabbed on to her long, ginger tresses and pulled without care for how much it hurt her. She yelped but her inner-walls tightened around his shaft, still deep within her.
"You are such a fucking masochist," he said. "You like this, don't you? When I do this?" He pulled on her hair again. She bit her lip to keep from making a sound. "Or this," He took his other hand and twisted at her erect nipple.
Ginny didn't flinch. She just moved her hips up and down around him and gave him the most combative grin she could muster.
"Get on your hands and knees – now," he commanded. She rolled her eyes and complied, choosing to go along with his little game. He dove into her again, giving her hard spanks on her already sore arse.
"Fuck, that hurts," she cried.
"Good." Slap. He was not going easy on her anymore, there were no soothing caresses between spanks, no care if she was OK. Ginny had awakened something within him and was practically begging for this treatment. It was such a turn on to know how much influence she had over him.
"FUCKING Hell, that stings!"
He yanked at her hair so he could see her face. She winced, then keened in supreme pleasure. Sensing she was close, Blaise reached down to pinch and pull at her aching clit. A feral scream ripped through her throat. "OOH….huh huh HUH HUH. Fuck that feels so good – HARRY!"
Screaming Harry's name as she climaxed was perhaps the most brilliant thing Ginny could have done to win that little battle of theirs and she was beyond pleased with herself. Blaise, of course, was furious.
He picked up her tired, post-orgasm body and threw it against the nearest wall with all his strength. There was a loud, thundering echo in the drawing room, only to be followed by Ginny's gleeful strings of laughter.
"DON'T BREAK MY HOUSE, ZABINI!" Draco yelled from across the room, balls deep in Astoria. "OR MY WOMEN!"
"I think Blaise… mmmm… finally… met his match," Astoria commented between moans.
"There was that one time he had you." Draco bit down on her shoulder, knowing her sensitive bits better than his own. She tossed back her head, gripping the muscles of his back for support.
"True enough," she conceited. "If memory serves, I think accidently broke a couple of fingers." Her husband brought his head up to look into her sinfully blue eyes.
"You're wicked," he said.
"But of course, Drake. That's why you love me." She rode him with impressive ease and balance. "And because I can do this –"
Astoria, licked a finger, reached between where she and her husband were connected and plunged it into his arsehole. Draco shot up and into Astoria. She moaned with a satisfied grin.
"Well that certainly helps," Draco said. He yanked his wife forward and kissed her wantonly.
Hermione wished she could stop herself looking, wished that seeing him so happy with his wife didn't irk her as much as it did, but at that moment she had Luna's tongue halfway down her cunt and all she could think about was the stupid blonde wizard that tormented her at Hogwarts.
"Ugh," Blaise moaned from across the room, "Draco will you stop being so monogamous and help me take, Weasley." He attached his mouth to the Ginny's neck and bit down. "She needs to be taught a lesson – Slytherin style. I need my mate, like old times… in the dungeons."
"I can't oblige, old friend," Draco replied, looking hungrily at Astoria. "I'm enjoying the company of my wife."
"Come on Draco," Pansy chimed in from her corner. "You know she wants Looney Lovegood, anyway. Mudblood won't mind sitting out a round."
"DON'T CALL HER THAT," Draco and Astoria said together, the former defending Hermione while the latter looked to Luna predatorily.
"Somebody's grown attached to their pets," Pansy said. "Didn't anyone ever teach you not to sleep where you eat?"
"Very clever, Parkinson, I only wonder if you were ever taught manners," Astoria retorted. She did not actually think it was clever at all, considering the phrase was "don't shit where you sleep," but, then again, Pansy had never been the brightest candle on Hogwart's ceiling.
"If you are to play with our things," Astortia scolded. "You need to treat them respect – all of them. If that is too difficult for you, you can return Angelina and be on your way." Pansy eyes flashed with intrigue rather than anger. Playful sparing was the Slytherin way after all.
"There's no need to get defensive Tor, we've all known about your little crush on Lovegood for ages," said Pansy. "You never stopped bloody talking about her in the common room."
"Is that true, Mistress?" Luna chimed. She gave her mistress a gleeful look that told Astoria she'd been caught.
Astoria almost forgot herself and blushed – almost.
"Pansy, you're not talking about crushes are you? Because, correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe no crush could rival yours … on my husband." Astoria's smile dripped with victory. "Tell me Parkinson, how'd that work out for you?"
Angelina watched Pansy's back stiffen and cheeks turn red as a rose.
"Watch it, Astoria" Blaise said from across the room.
"I don't need you to defend me!" Pansy shouted at her husband. She turned to Astoria in a rage. "Why don't you stop hiding, little girl," she said getting up and fiercely walking toward Astoria.
The other witch removed herself from Draco and stood to match the elder woman without fear.
"You sure you want to try to play this game with me, Parkinson." Astoria brought her moist lips to Pansy's ear. "I was just a little too much for you to handle last time."
"Try me, bitch," Pansy bit back. Astoria shrugged her shoulders and walked past Pansy to the center of the room.
"I think not," Astoria said, nose turned skyward. "People who have to use their safe words bore me." She pat, gently, at Luna's long, blonde mane, even though her head was still inches away from Hermione's center.
Angelina walked over to Pansy and began to literally stroke her ego after that embarrassing battle. Pansy resisted at first, but was thankful for the distraction and the warmth of the quidditch player's arm.
"We must stop meeting like this, Granger," Astoria drawled. Hermione looked up, flushed and hair all askew, at her boss's wife. "It seems every time I see you, one of my lovers has their head buried in your pretty cunt." Astoria's eyes bore into Hermione's, who suddenly felt the need to be armed in defense. But then Astoria let a smile spread across her beautiful face. "You must be something special then," she went on pleasantly. "None of your special tricks Pet," Astoria addressed Luna. "Those are exclusively for me."
"I wouldn't dream of it, Mistress," Luna purred back.
"Lovely. I have work to do but you'll see me later." Astoria caressed Luna's cheek. "Be ready when I return. It won't be good for you if I'm kept waiting."
"Hey, you can't talk to her like that," Hermione challenged. "She's a person!"
"Hermione, no," Luna said under her breath.
Astoria's blue eyes bore into the deepest depths of Hermione's soul.
"I'd listen to Luna if I were you, I'm not a women most witches find it enjoyable to cross. Then again you are the famous Hermione Granger, perhaps it would be wise of me to back down in fear." Hermione could tell she was mocking her, but there was something so frightening in the coolness of her voice that she remained silent. "I can never seem to do that, though. Peculiar."
"Bring your claws over here, love," Draco said, "I miss your company." It an attempt to sway the conflict. Astoria grazed Hermione's cheek with a light smack, then rejoined her husband.
Hermione's blood boiled, her insides contorted. Never in her life had she been talked to with such flagrant belittlement.
"I'm not afraid of her," Hermione angrily whispered to Luna.
"Neither is the prince of the king, but that does not mean he's not in danger."
A long day called for a long soak, and that's exactly what Hermione did that evening. Stepping out into the misty haze after a shower was exactly what Hermione needed. That was until Draco Malfoy walked in unannounced.
"Hello, Granger," he said, "you're looking well this evening." Hermione laughed, wrapping a towel around her dripping form.
"What are you doing here, Draco?" He stalked toward her, looking her up and down. Hermione moved her soaked curls nervously behind her ear. She had to admit, after a full day of him practically ignoring her, this little bit of attention did feel nice. Ugh, pull yourself together girl. He's married and you're a bloody marshmallow every time he looks at you with those beautiful sliver eyes of his. Hold your ground, Hermione – make it hard for him.
"You looked really great today with Luna," Draco said. "I'd never seen you with another girl before." He pushed her against the back wall, watching her towel slide down the path of her body. "It got me really hot." He moved his hand up her waist to circle a damp breast. "It's getting me hard just thinking about it, but you can feel that." He pressed his growing erection against her bare womanhood. She let out a deep sigh.
"Draco…I just showered," she whined. He paused his ministrations and stepped back from her, much to her actual dismay. "Wait, what?" She said, "That actually worked?"
"If you're too tired, I understand," he grinned.
"Wait, I actually, um well." Hermione had no intention of actually turning Draco down, she just wanted to tease him a little bit. She opened her mouth to say so –
"No need for excuses Hermione. It was a long day, I get it. I actually came in here to ask you for a favor." Hermione picked up her towel and recovered herself.
"You don't really have to ask, I mean I work for you – "
"This goes beyond the call of duty, Granger… It… uhh doesn't have to do with sex." He looked kind of nervous. Hermione scolded herself for thinking it was cute.
"What is it?" she asked, suddenly feeling very naked.
"You don't have to if you don't want to, obviously, but I have this business proposal I have to do in a couple months for the department of Civil Muggle and Magical Relations and I could really use the help of someone who knows about – you know." He cleared his throat, motioning to her muggle-ness. "I would normally ask Tori, but she's so stressed out with the international side of the company, right now, that I really can't put anything else on her plate." He ran a hand through his hair. "You know what, its fine I'll ask someone else. I'll just leave."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Draco, I'd love to help. I would absolutely love to have something to do other than read myself into a stupor. When do we start?"
He beamed at her, well as much in someone like Draco Malfoy could beam. Truthfully, it was more of a measured smirk.
"Really? Ok. That's great. Let's start tomorrow, in the library. Same time as always?"
"Sounds great!" Draco leaned in and gave Hermione a quick peck on the lips.
"Good night," he said softly before leaving her in awe of what happened. Hermione knew only one thing for sure. She was in way more trouble than she'd previously anticipated.
Just as Hermione returned to her room, she saw Angelina putting on clothes as if she were about to go out again.
"Hey, where are you going?" Hermione asked. Angelina finished buttoning her shirt and went over to affectionately pat Ginny's hair as she lay on the bed, dead asleep.
"I think Zabini wore her out today. Look at this." Angelina motioned for Hermione to come look at a bruise clearly forming on Ginny's shoulder.
"That's for sure," Hermione agreed. "You seemed to be doing alright with, Pansy," Hermione added with a disgusted look on her face.
"She's not as bad as all that. Not really. She's just embarrassed. They all are, even Malfoy. They feel like everything they were brought up to know was a lie." Angelina let out a huge yawn.
"Don't go flying tonight," Hermione said, looking at her friend with concern. "Stay in and get some sleep. I'm sure Ginny will go flying with you in the morning."
"I can't Mione – I have to go at night. It's my thing, OK. You understand?" Hermione nodded.
"Just as long as you're taking care of yourself. Pepper-up potions are not a substitute for a full night's sleep.
"I know," she said with a smile. "Thanks for the concern, mom."
"Tease all you want, I just care about you." Hermione crawled in the bed and laid down next to Ginny, nuzzling herself in the covers.
Angelina watched the two with a smile, took a deep breath, and apparated out of the bedroom and landed in front of Weasley Wizard Wheezes. She opened the door and walked into the mess of rubble that once was Fred and George's life's work. There was broken glass, exploded products and Merlin knows what else on that floor. Angelina walked past it as she did every night around this time. She marched up the stairs and into the little flat above the shop.
As soon as she opened the door, a tan little boy, with a thin layer of auburn curls, ran into her arms.
"Mumma!" He squealed.
"Hey handsome," she pulled her son into her arms and hugged him to her. "How's my sweet boy?" He looked down with the saddest expression marring his adorable three year old face.
"Daddy's sick again." Angelina took a deep breath, looking into his worried little eyes.
"Did that scare you, Freddie?" He nodded his head.
"Daddy's gonna be alright, OK?" She tickled him and a fit of giggles echoed through the flat. "OK?"
"OK."
"Good. Now, what do you want to play tonight, hmm? Your choice."
"No lessons?" His face brightened. Angelina grinned.
"Not today, how about that?" He nodded his head energetically.
"broom?"
"Sure! Why don't you wait for me in your room, while I go check on Daddy?" Freddie ran to his room as his mother took out a ring from her pocket and placed it on her left hand.
"You look tired," her husband said upon sight of her.
"I am tired, George." She moved to sit next to him on the bed. She laid her head in his lap as he stroked her hair. She hummed into his touch. "I'm taking pep-up potions instead of sleep most days. I have constant headaches. I don't know what to say, babe, I'm exhausted."
"Is it work? What's Malfoy got you doing that you're always so tired when you come home."
"No, it's nothing. Mostly just filing and sending owls. It's just that I'm living two full lives and I'm just one person." She stopped, remembering what her son said. "Freddie said you had a rough day today. What happened?"
"Thought I saw my twin, again," George said, looking a bit embarrassed.
"Again George? I thought healer Lynn said you were past all that. "
"I think I scared the kid," he said, bowing his head.
"He'll be alright. He's just worried about his dad is all."
"I'm trying Ang, I really am."
"I know you are." She took his hand, trying to calm him.
"I'm sorry about the shop, and you having to work this crappy job to fix the damage."
"Shhhh," she soothed. "Have you eaten today? Showered?" George shook his head. She looked down at the man she loved and wondered where he had gone. Wondered how she could get him back again. "Why don't you get in the shower and Freddie and I will fix you something to eat?"
George leaned in to kiss his wife. She accepted his lips cautiously, pang after pang of guilt hitting her the longer it went on. She had to work for Malfoy, she reminded herself. She had no other choice or he would lose the shop. Freddie wouldn't have food to eat. She knew these things to be true, but it never eased the pain. George pulled out of the kiss and rested his head on her forehead.
"Why don't you join me," he whispered, "in the shower?"
"Oh, Hun. I – we can't. I have to watch the kid. I promised him I'd let him fly a bit." He edged further away from her. She placed a gentle hand on his cheek to bring him back. "Hey, maybe you can join us after you eat?"
"Maybe," he replied sadly.
Author's Note: How did you all like this installment? Did you like the Zabini's? What did you think about Angelina's backstory? What do you think will happen next? Let me know all this and more with REVIEWS! XXX PTP