A/N: Somnium (lat.) = dream


Chapter 9: Somnium


Hermione trudged through the snow of Diagon Alley's crowded Winter Wonderland with her brother Robin in tow. He had eagerly accepted her invitation to accompany her with her Christmas shopping and now watched everything with wide-eyed fascination. Hermione was glad he had welcomed magic with open arms and didn't freak out at the idea of this different world – this magical world – at all.

Hermione had to chuckle when Robin got all saucer-eyed at the displays of magic around him. Her brother reminded her of her younger self and her first trip to Diagon Alley with her parents right before her first year of Hogwarts. Everything had been so exciting and wondrous, with so many curiosities to uncover.

Hermione was glad she could share all this with her brother now.


Scorpius wiggled his way through the crowd, cursing under his breath for not having foreseen this. He regretted not having taken care of all of his presents weeks ago and leaving everything to last minute. It was the same every year and really, he should have known better. Thankfully he only still needed to buy Theo his 'damn good' Christmas present and something for his mother.

Just as he was about to enter a shop, Scorpius caught the sight of a certain brown-haired girl from school, just across the street. He frowned when he realized she was standing and talking with an unfamiliar guy.

Who was this person she was with? They looked far too comfortable with one another for Scorpius' liking. Was he her boyfriend perhaps? Scorpius didn't remember Hermione ever mentioning having one in their conversations, so he had always assumed that she was single – especially considering the fact that she had arrived in 'their time' only three months ago; not exactly much time to find a new boyfriend. At least, that was what Scorpius had thought.

He continued to watch with furrowed brows as the curly-haired man took one of Hermione's hands and pulled her over the other side of the street to enter Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. His classmate seemed somewhat reluctant, but let herself be dragged away anyway.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Scorpius decided to follow them. He decided not to be discouraged by a possible boyfriend and drop his pursuit of the Gryffindor. He would make sure to change her relationship status soon if she were indeed in one.


Hermione couldn't help but roll her eyes when her brother dragged her off to a shop he found interesting yet again. She sighed heavily. So this was what it was like to have a sibling, huh?

"Stop sighing all the time," Robin told her, picking up a shiny item from one of the elaborate displays and examining it.

"I still need to get some presents for friends, you know. And you dragging me off everywhere before I can actually find something isn't exactly helping," Hermione pouted and clung onto his left arm. Yes, how was she supposed to find all her Christmas presents if he kept her from her search?

"That's because you want to go and look in the boring shops and not the cool ones," Robin replied and placed the shiny object back onto the display.

The 'boring' comment did not sit well with Hermione. "Robbie, I do n–"

"Yes, you do!" her brother insisted. "You do and it's driving me nuts."

"Well, I'm sorry, but I hardly think that my girlfriends would appreciate it very much if I bought them Dungbombs or glasses that conjured an illusion and made the wearer turn into the opposite sex to onlookers. Or the books on how to tame a dragon that you were so interested in," Hermione told him, chuckling.

"Yeah, I still can't believe that dragons actually exist. And you've got to admit that I'm pretty fit when I'm a female," Robin deadpanned and they both burst out laughing.

Their funny moment, however, was soon interrupted by a cheery "Hi, Hermione."

Hermione turned and found herself facing one Scorpius Malfoy.

"Oh, hello Scorpius. How are you doing?" she greeted politely.

"I'm doing well, thank you. And yourself?" Scorpius smiled at her whilst he brushed powdery white snow off his clothes.

"Same here," she answered and Scorpius nodded, eyeing her companion suspiciously.

"So, who's your friend?"

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Scorpius, this is my older brother Robin. Robin, this is Scorpius – a friend from school," Hermione introduced the two.

"Hey, man," Robin greeted Scorpius and stuck out his hand to him.

Scorpius shook it with a feeling of relief.

So this man was just her brother and not her boyfriend? He was a friend and not a foe? Excellent!


Hermione had not expected Scorpius to say yes when she asked him if he wanted to join them in their Christmas shopping. She had simply asked out of politeness, but now in hindsight was glad that she had. Her brother and Scorpius got on swimmingly if their animated chatter was anything to go by.

After browsing the shop alone for a while, Hermione decided to re-join the two boys who were standing in front of a shelf showcasing what looked to be a bestseller product. Curious, Hermione picked up one of the boxes and read the description on the back to see what exactly made the product so supposedly appealing.

The Dream Shell – Re-experience your dreams and keep them stored to share with friends! Just open the shell, place your palm on the liquid surface, say 'Somnium' and the shell shall show you your last dream!

*Item only capable of storing one dream. Not re-usable for additional dreams.

Hermione felt quite impressed. The Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes products certainly never failed to amaze her. This really was some extraordinary magic! George and his business partner had really outdone themselves.

However while Hermione approved of this particular magical item, this couldn't be said for all products that were to be found in the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes assortment. Some of their products were rather outrageous if you asked Hermione.

Because really; how could anyone endorse nougats that made people get sick all over the place or gave them severe nosebleeds? Hermione had been so annoyed when Harry and Ron had used them to skive off class once and then later even had the nerve to ask for her homework to copy things off her.

Hermione smiled as she remembered the good scolding she had given them for that. (She had, of course, refused to give them her essay.)

Sighing for what seemed like the millionth time that day, Hermione examined the Dream Shell more closely and scoffed when she saw the price tag.

"What a rip-off! Who in their right mind would be willing to pay that amount of money just to relive a dream they had?"

Her brother and Scorpius, apparently. They walked up to Hermione clutching with bags containing their newly-purchased Dream Shells and huge grins on their faces.

"I can't wait to try this," Robin exclaimed excitedly, eagerly unpacking his box.

"Let's hope this thing works for Muggles, too," Scorpius commented before occupying himself with his own Dream Shell.

Luckily for her brother, the item did indeed work for Muggles. Hermione smiled when she saw him staring at his shell in awe whilst watching his dream. He was such a child sometimes – it was adorable.


"Is that broom for flying?" Robin asked, pointing to a shop window to the left.

"Yes, that's the new Thunderbolt; just came out last month. One of my friends has it – it's an amazing broom," Scorpius answered in equal reverence and immediately began to fill Hermione's brother in about brooms and Quidditch. Hermione rolled her eyes as they entered Quality Quidditch Supplies, forgetting all about Hermione's existence.

"Boys and sports," she muttered under her breath before following them reluctantly.

Inside the shop, Hermione found the two boys still deep in conversation, examining products with almost manic enthusiasm. Not being much of a Quidditch fan herself, Hermione decided to sit down and wait for them until they were done. Her feet felt a bit sore from all the walking.


Twenty minutes sitting in a chair found Hermione begin to feel extremely bored. No matter how hard she tried, Quidditch could never hold her interest for long.

Hermione shifted around in her chair, trying to get more comfortable, but ended up accidentally knocking over one of the bags that the boys had left with her. With an annoyed groan, she got up and went about to collect the items that she had sent flying all over the floor.

She somehow found herself clutching Robin's Dream Shell, and Hermione flipped it open curiously. She hadn't had a proper chance to examine how it worked.

Hermione watched as the liquid surface began to whirl and then project a moving picture. The scene that unfolded in front of her showed two people sitting on a sofa together in a dimly-lit room. Hermione could neither identify the man's nor woman's faces as they were pressed against each other in a heated snogging session.

Hermione felt her face flush when upon realising that she was seriously invading her brother's privacy. She was sure that Robbie wouldn't want anyone to see this dream – this seemingly smutty dream of his. However, when Hermione was just about to click the Dream Shell shut, she heard something that made her freeze in her spot.


"Hermione," the husky voice breathed as said girl's eyes grew wide and mirrored the horror she was feeling.

Holy shit.

The Dream Shell she was currently holding in her hands was not her brother's, but Scorpius Malfoy's! But that wasn't all – it was a Dream Shell that contained a dream that had her starring in it! The man in the dream was her classmate and the woman in those skimpy clothes was her! Ack!

Horrified, Hermione looked back down at the Dream Shell in her hands. It was now showing a scene of her dream-self straddling her partner, leaving a trail of sweet butterfly kisses from his collarbone down to his belly button. Her hands were wandering over Dream-Scorpius' torso, caressing his skin. Real-Hermione continued watching in shock, not being able to tear her eyes away, as Dream-Scorpius grabbed the back of her neck, pulling her in for another demanding kiss. Dream-Hermione seemed to really like this, rewarding him with a soft moan, her hands having wandered dangerously low and fingers now playing with the button of his trousers. Before Hermione knew it, those hands suddenly disappeared under said trousers and were starting to pull ou–

Hermione squeaked loudly and snapped the Dream Shell shut.

Dear God! Scorpius Malfoy was having very unchaste dreams about her! The slimy pervert wanted to get in her knickers!

He must have been acting this nicely with her and her brother because he must have thought that it would help him in 'getting some' from her!

Hermione clutched the shell tightly in her hands. Oh, Malfoy was definitely going to get something from her. A good hard kick in his family jewels, that was! That sleazy pervert!


Whilst his new friend was occupied with a book he had found, Scorpius decided to search for Hermione. He found her in a corner by a large window sill. When she saw him approaching, she stood up and sent him a menacing glare.

"You want to have sex with me!" Hermione accused him with narrowed eyes, holding up something that looked suspiciously like his Dream Shell.

Scorpius froze in horror. He was so fucked.

"Ye– wait, I mean NO!" Scorpius blabbered trying to defend himself, taking a few steps away from Hermione as safety measure.

"NO? Then why did you have dirty dreams about me?" she demanded, hands on her hips and her right foot tapping while waiting for an answer.

"It…" Shit, how was he going to explain this?

"… What you saw was…a nightmare I had? Yes, yes, it was a nightmare of me having sex with you."

Oh, real smooth. Scorpius mentally slapped himself.

Hermione frowned, "A nightmare?"

"Yes, of course," Scorpius replied arrogantly. "What else could it have been?"

Well, certainly not a nightmare, Hermione thought, but didn't say aloud. What a lying git.

She was not going to let this go. "It still doesn't give you any right to be having dreams of me doing stuff with you!"

Scorpius scoffed. "Well, excuse me. It's not like I can control the content of my dreams. Like I said, it was a nightm–"

"A nightmare. Yes, yes I know," she cut him off, huffing.

"Oh, don't you go and act all holier-than-thou with me! You're acting as if you never had any sex dreams involving people you know!" Scorpius snapped at her. He was beginning to feel quite annoyed himself.

She went out that Quidditch player and Harry Potter, so she must have had one dream or another of this sort involving at least one of them. She had no right to turn all bitchy on him. Like he had already explained, Scorpius couldn't exactly control what he dreamt of. Hell, he couldn't have known what that stupid Dream Shell was going to show him when he bought it as he did not remember his dreams from last night.

Why was she snooping around in his things anyway? Besides, she was probably just as dirty-minded as him or anyone for that matter. Scorpius told her just so. Hermione gaped at him like a fish, not believing that he had dared to say all those things to her.

Scorpius was saved from her angry retort when her brother decided to re-join them the exact moment that Hermione snapped out of it. Her brother failed to notice the tension between his sister and her classmate and instead asked them if they were hungry and wanted grab something to eat.

Scorpius, still red-faced from anger and embarrassment, nodded and took the lead. "Yeah, follow me."

That only made Hermione angrier.

How dare he join them for lunch now? First he had dirty fantasies about her, then made outrageous accusations and now he decides to join them for lunch? Was he serious?

"Hermione, are you coming or what?" Robin asked, breaking her train of thought. "I'm really hungry. So I'd appreciate if w–"

"Yes, I'm sorry," she apologized, giving him a small smile and glaring at Scorpius once Robin had turned away.

He returned the favour and glared right back.


A/N: A reviewer actually suggested the idea of Scorpius having a naughty dream about Hermione. Therefore: many thanks to the reviewer Panther Eyes! This chapter was quite fun to write. (But also pretty awkward since writing lemony scenes is not really my thing, I discovered.)

And thank you for all the kind reviews for the last few chapters. I'm glad the story is liked.

This chapter was proofread by RichelleBrinkley.