Chapter 9
Plans and Kisses
Hermione woke the next morning, felling a little better. She knew that dealing with her parents' will and settling everything was helping her to move on. Plus she had Draco to lean on, which gave her comfort. As she got up to take a shower, she passed the boxes that she had brought with her from her parents' house. She told herself she could go through them later. Why unpack them now? It's not like I'll be living here. I'll just get a few things out later that I know I need for the time being. I don't want Draco to think I plan on moving in permanently. He won't want me staying forever.
Draco peeked his head into her room and heard her shower going. When he saw the boxes piled against the wall, it made him wonder. Is she going to make herself more at home? I wish she would. Even with the Manor becoming homey, I don't want to live here alone. I'd miss her. Maybe I can hint here and there that she's welcome to live here for as long as she wants, even if it's forever. Merlin, that would be great!
They met downstairs for breakfast, ready to get their day started. "I went ahead and sent for some catalogs for the rest of the house," Draco said. "No point in leaving when we have the basic idea of what we want. Once we choose out of the catalogs, the furniture and other décor can be delivered almost at once," he said with an excited smile.
"That's a good idea, Draco! I could keep a better watch on the love potions that way; the next one is almost done. The way the progress is going on the house seems to indicate that your Manor should be good as new in a few days." Hermione smiled back at him, happy that he wouldn't be living with the depressing memories of the past.
"Do you think we should have a party when it's finished? We can invite everyone from the Order and their families. Maybe we can make it a grand ball. Everyone can dress up. Maybe a masked ball! I could arrange for the house-elves to watch over the kids that don't have babysitters. What do you think?" he asked.
"That's an even better idea!" Hermione beamed. "We should go to Diagon Alley today; we can get the materials for the ball, the invitations, and the costumes all at the same time."
He interrupted her, trying not to sound nervous. "No, let's stay here. Like you said, you wanted to keep an eye on the potions. I'll call out for a tailor and dressmaker to come to us. We can hire a party planner to take care of the ball itself. Then we won't have to worry about all of that on top of finishing the Manor and trying out the potions."
With that, they both left the table. While Hermione was finishing the next potion, Draco made appointments with the tailor, dressmaker, and the party planner. When his own owl was leaving, another owl flew in through the study window. Draco gave it an owl treat and hurriedly opened the letter, recognising Mr. Weasley's handwriting.
Draco,
I've spoken to a few people, and Remus has agreed to look into this matter when he has time between sessions of setting up his special safe-house. I'm pleased to hear that your main concern is Hermione's safety and agree that you should be cautious. Should you detect any sign of him, please let us know. Even if there is only a slim chance of his being alive, it's better to be prepared than caught unawares. Please contact me regularly I would feel better if we kept in close touch about all of this. Have you mentioned it to Hermione? I know her well, and for her own safety and peace of mind, you should tell her. Be safe.
A.W.
Draco felt conflicted, uncertain whether he should tell Hermione despite Mr. Weasley's recommendation. She was moving on, becoming happier every day. If he told her, it would keep her from relaxing. The war might be over, but if there was still a threat from Lucius, it would hang over her head every day. It would be his, Draco's, fault if anything happened to her.
He knew that if his father were alive, Lucius would put at least part of the blame for Draco's condition on Hermione. She was the one who had captured him and turned him toward the good side. Lucius would hate her for being a Muggleborn who had caused him to lose his puppet and nearly get him killed into the bargain.
Draco decided to wait a few days. She still had a few things to deal with concerning her parents' will; he didn't want to pile this worry on top of her other ones.
He was so deep in thought that he didn't hear the knock on the study door. Hermione walked in, saying, "I'm not disturbing you, am I?"
As he shoved Mr. Weasley's letter into his desk drawer, he replied quickly, "No, no, I was just looking over some estate papers. I'm thinking about selling some properties and donating the money to some charities. My father gained these properties through blackmail and other means. It's only right that they should be used for good. I couldn't live with the thought of owning things that represent how evil Lucius was."
She looked at him strangely for a second, but decided to ignore the niggling feeling of something being off. "Okay, but let me know if you need help with any of it. I came in here to tell you that the potion is ready."
"Well, let's get to it! I've made the appointments for the party planning, and they're for tomorrow. We both have costume fittings at noon, and then the Party planner will be here at two. I should be back to normal by then, right?"
Smiling nervously, she said, "Well, I certainly hope so. This is a recipe I found in a very old book, and it didn't specify a length of time. Just that it 'lasts long enough to produce results.'"
"Well, hopefully it will provide more than just results," he stated with nervousness in his own voice.
She handed him the potion and started for the door. "Well, good luck, Draco." She walked out the door, closed it, and walked away. She decided she would, after all, fetch those few things she wanted from her boxes. She was just trying to keep her mind occupied, to ignore all thoughts of Draco. If only...No! I will not waste my time dreaming about things that won't ever happen!
Draco looked at the door, wishing things were different. Okay, time for round two, he thought, his stomach feeling a bit jumpy.Quickly, so as not to have too much time to think about it, he took out the cork and, as before, downed the potion in one gulp. He felt tingly all over, and for a split second he wavered on the spot.
Then it hit him like a ton of bricks. I LOVE HER SO MUCH! Why did she leave me? What can I do to make her love me in return? I should kiss her! That's all I need to do! Kiss her with all of my soul and show her how I feel! Suiting actions to words, he walked to the door, and to his surprise, it was unlocked.
She didn't call Lucky to seal the room! I'm coming, darling...I'm cominghe said in his head, and he started walking quickly down the hall. He couldn't find her fast enough. He went from room to room. When he was done searching the first floor, it struck him where she would be: in her room. He ran up the stairs and down the hall. When he reached her room, he quietly opened her door, and there she was. She was going through a box, looking thoughtful while she nibbled her bottom lip.
She is so beautiful. He stared across the room, mesmerised by her beauty, that nibbling on her lip driving him insane with passion. When he was just feet away from her, she looked up, having finally having heard his steps. Her face showed the shock of her sudden realisation that she hadn't had Lucky seal the room. Before she could say anything, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly.
She just stood there for a moment, trying to recover from the shock. But she couldn't fight the need that rose in her so quickly; she started kissing him back when his tongue demanded entry. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close, kissing him with all of the pent-up passion she felt.
Draco couldn't have been happier with her response. He pulled her closer to him, until she was flush with his body. His hands roamed down her back, across her hips. He pulled her even closer, and started to walk forward, making her walk back toward the bed.
It was then that her eyes shot open. Realising what she was doing, she pushed him away from her with a force she didn't know she had. He stumbled back, nearly falling.
"Hermione, darling, it's okay. I love you! You must feel the same way; I felt it in your kiss!" He started walking toward her again with his arms open, ready to pull her to him once again. Before she could lose her resolve and let him just go ahead and do it, she pulled out her wand and pointed it toward him.
"Draco, we can't do this! You're under the influence of a potion. We—I—"
"Hermione, you felt it. I know you did!" he replied, swept along by the power of the potion, almost begging her to agree with him.
Unable to say anything more, she quickly yelled, "Petrificus Totalus!" Draco dropped to the floor and stared at her, a surprised expression on his face. "Lucky!" she screamed. Lucky popped into the room, took one look at Draco, and gasped.
"What has Miss done?"
"I forgot to call you earlier! He took another love potion. I couldn't stop him, and I had to Petrify him! Please Levitate him downstairs into his study and stay with him until the effects of the potion wear off. Check him over for any injuries from the fall!" She looked Draco in the eyes, her regretful, pained expression telling him she was sorry. When Lucky did as she asked and guided Draco out the door, closing it behind them and the door closed, Hermione fell to her knees and cried.
When Draco was released from the body bind, he was also released from his shock. I know she loves me! Why did she fight it? "Lucky, let me out of here. I have to make her see reason! She loves me. I know she does!"
"Lucky is sorry, sir. But it's for sir's own good!" Lucky pointed his little finger at Draco and muttered something. Draco stared at him for a second before falling once again. This time, as Lucky intended, he fell harmlessly onto the couch in his study, fast asleep. "Lucky did it for your own good, sir," the house-elf murmured, his expression troubled. "I is hoping you won't be giving Lucky the sack now."
After Lucky had applied some healing and pain relieving potions to Draco's head, he made sure Draco was comfortable. Popping upstairs, he went to Hermione. "Miss, I is putting him to sleep. He will sleep for a long time, maybe until morning. His head is bumped, but not bleeding, and I is putting potions on it for pain and swelling. Is there anything I can be getting miss before I continue watching over the Master?"
Drying her face on her sleeve, Hermione replied, "Thank you, Lucky. I'm fine. Just please don't leave his side. It's my fault this happened, and I don't want you to leave his side again until he's awake and better, all right?"
"Yes, miss. I am going now!" Lucky popped out of the room and Hermione got to her feet. She walked to her bathroom and got undressed. Stepping into the shower, she stood there and let the water wash over her, trying to clear her head. I can't believe I did that. How am I going to face him? What am I going to say? I'll just tell him I was—Merlin, I don't knowShe let out a little scream of frustration and stepped out of the shower.
I need to get out of the house. Drying herself with a quick spell, she dressed and proceeded to the study. When she got there, she knocked on the door. "Lucky? Can you come here for a second?"
Lucky popped into the hallway. "What is Miss needing?"
"I need to go to Diagon Alley; I just wanted to let you know in case you needed me. Please don't leave his side while I'm gone, okay?"
"Yes, Miss. Let Lucky unward the fireplace for you first so you can be leaving. Master had me locking it today," he replied.
"He didn't tell me about that. Did he tell you why he wanted you to lock the fireplaces?" she asked with confusion on her face.
"No, Miss. Lucky is just doing what he was told. You will have to be asking the master that." Lucky muttered a quick spell. "Now, Miss, you is free to go."
"Thank you, Lucky. Please come and tell me if I'm not home when Draco wakes up, all right?" She walked away before he could answer, wondering why Draco would give orders to lock up the fireplaces and not tell her about it. She took some Floo powder and traveled to the Leaky Cauldron.
She spent a few hours shopping happily, never noticing that she was being followed by a man wearing a dark cloak that covered his face. The man smiled grimly as he trailed after her, planning the time when he would introduce himself.
A/N: I HOPE YOU GUYS ARE ENJOYING THIS FIC! PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW LOL HUGS
