Chapter 11

The Truth in a Touch

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Heads Common Room, 1:15 am, September 5th

It has been one hell of a day, Draco thought as walked into his common room after rounds. I have never had to deal with so many petty brawls and catfights in my life. Hell, I didn't even know that many fights broke out in a single year here! He dropped his bag on the white carpet next to his white armchair. He curled his lip in disgust as he lowered himself into the plush seat. All this bloody white is driving me insane! he complained to himself as he plopped into the chair. "Apaca la loose!" he whispered, thankful when the room was shrouded in darkness. Anything is better than all of that harsh white!

He sat there alone watching the fire as the flames died down leaving red hot coals in the grate. Much better. Thank Merlin, I don't think I can handle anything else tonight.

A sliver of light caught his attention. It was coming from the Head Girl's bedroom. I wonder what she is up to, he wondered to himself. She is probably having a late night cup of tea, he turned to peek into the kitchen. She sure does drink a lot of tea. When his eyes found her form in the dimly lit room, his breath caught. He watched from his darkened vantage point as Hermione stepped into their kitchenette swathed in something black. And short. I should know better than to say things like that. Her short curly hair was mussed. She looks so damn sexy! Note to self, make sure everything Granger needs for her midnight tea is on the top shelf! He ran his pale fingers through his hair. Where the hell did that come from?

Think unsexy thoughts! Sprout in nothing but Mandrake leaves. McGonagall in a bikini. Dumbledore in a Speedo! Please Merlin, anything but Granger in short black nightie that is inching up her creamy, toned thighs… He closed his eyes. Please let it all be a dream. When he opened his eyes, she was, thankfully, filling the teapot with water.

He readjusted himself, before he went to the kitchen. I can't have her thinking I was spying on her. He watched her measure tea into the diffuser as he got closer. "Evening, Granger." He drawled, his voice sending shivers down her spine.

Hermione tried to hold her hands steady. Where did he come from? "What do you want, Malfoy?"

"Would a glass of tea be too much to ask for?" He said sweetly.

She fought the shivers his voice caused, again. "No." She started to reach for another mug.

"PLEASE!" He shouted, as her nightie started to glide upwards. He watched her jump. "Let me get that for you." I don't think I can handle seeing any more of your legs tonight, he said as he grabbed the mug. "Here, Hermione."

Hermione looked at him oddly as she took the mug from him, her eyebrow rose in question. "Why are you being so nice to me all of the sudden?"

He froze. "I…um. It's just been a long day, Granger."

"So, it's back to Granger is it?"

"Would you prefer Hermione?"

"Yes, and I would like to call you Draco. It would be a good idea if we modeled the standards we expect the others to strive for. Is that going to be a problem?"

"No, Hermione."

"Good. Promise to play nice in front of the other children?" She asked offering him her hand.

He looked at her with a smirk, "Promise."

He took her hand.

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"Macha, I swear to you, I won't say a word." The thin man with the white blonde hair grabbed her hand. She looked into his eyes and wanted to believe him. He brushed her long dark curls from her forehead and kissed her cheek. "As soon as the sun begins to set, I will be home, with you and our babe." He placed a hand on her rounded stomach.

"If you betray me, my beloved, you will never see us again." Macha said seriously to her husband. "Just don't mention me to anyone. Please." She moved a stray blond hair out of his eyes. "I love you, more than you can imagine."

As he turned to leave, he looked into her tear filled eyes. "I promise."

The tea kettle began to whistle. Hermione was visibly shaken, but quickly withdrew her hand. "The tea." She said simply and turned to finish making the two mugs of tea. Hermione left his on the counter and disappeared into her room without a word.

Draco was ghostly pale. He grabbed his tea and walked to his room and closed the door behind him. What in the hell just happened? He sat down at his desk and quickly penned a note to Potter. They needed to talk and it couldn't wait until Saturday.

Tomorrow, Midnight, M

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Hallway Outside Ginny & Pansy's Common Room, September 5th, 1:15 pm

Ginny was on her way back to new 'flat.' Luna had invited her to study with her for their Potions project. Any excuse was a good excuse to escape from her new roommate. This Muggle Studies class is going to be pure hell! She was struggling with her thoughts when a voice called to her through the darkness.

"Damn, scroll. Damn Snape," Harry muttered as he struggled with an armful of books and scrolls filled with spells he was supposed to study before their next lesson in a week. Snape is so frustrating. Most of the time, it seemed Snape was just waiting for him to fail, to chastise him. Humiliating him. Then, occasionally he seemed to genuinely care. It was very confusing. He didn't even see Ginny.

Ginny saw his heavy load and couldn't help herself. She stood and gracefully crossed the hall, "Can I help you with that Harry?" Her fingers reached for his arm.

Without thinking he hotly replied, "I don't need your help."

Her fingers touched his arm.

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She watched the hero in his element; his green eyes went wild with fury as the battle rage tore through his body. Rivulets of blood dripped down his lean form and fell onto the already abused earth. The gore and carnage was everywhere. The woman licked her lips as she looked on. His black hair clung to his sweat soaked forehead as his sword dug deeply into an opponent's sinewy thigh. Another swift stroke and the stranger's head was cleanly severed from his body. This warrior is worthy of my attention, she thought to herself as she flew towards the earth from her lofty perch. Mid-air, she began to transform into one of her many forms. A maiden.

As she neared the ground, her slender white feet dug into the cool soil. Her red tipped black plumage transformed into a feathery cape, covering her slim, pale body. Wild red hair framed a delicately deceptive face. Beneath her cape, she was nude.

Her eyes searched for the warrior and finally spotted the mortal bathing in a stream near the battle field. "Greeting, Great Warrior." she said seductively as she entered the icy water. Nearing the large man, she cupped her hands and filled them with clean water. "Let me help you." she whispered near his ear. He didn't even acknowledge her and continued rinsing away the blood, the tainted blood streaming down his battle hardened form and into the stream. Watching the path of the water as it traveled south from his dark head, she felt her skim warm with lust. Never had any male, mortal or god, caused her to react so.

"I watched over you in battle, warrior." she said boldly as she watched the man don his clothes. "I wish to offer you a gift."

Green eyes seemed to pierce right through her soul. "What gift can you possibly offer me, girl?" Cúchulainn asked cockily.

"I have been watching you throughout each of your battles. You have impressed me with your strength and valor and I wish to offer you my love." Morrigan answered, reaching out her arms to him.

He roughly pushed her outreached hands away, "I have better things to do with my time than worry with a maiden's love."

"While watching you in combat, I have also help keep you safe, ensuring your victory. I will continue to help you, if only you will return my love." She said in a frustrated voice, her hair beginning to fly in as the wind began to howl.

He scoffed at her reply. "I do not need help in battle. Especially from a mere woman."

The goddess' eyes turned blood red as her fury rose "If you will not have my love and help, then you shall have my hatred and enmity" she said.

Cúchulainn drew his sword to attack the woman, but before he could, he turned into a crow with red tipped feathers. He knew he had made a grave mistake.

A mighty rumble of thunder shook the air. Harry flinched. Ginny opened the door and shut it coldly in his face.

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Quidditch Pitch, Hogwarts, September 5th, 1:05 am

"Mmmm," sighed a student, as the tremors from her orgasm thread their way through her body. She smiled to herself in the darkness as her mind when back over her recent lovemaking session. "I love you." She breathed, barely above a whisper. A cool rush hit her body, as her lover rose from their pallet in the shadows of the Quidditch pitch. "Where are you off to so soon, love?" she asked.

The boy shook his head. "I shouldn't have been here. We shouldn't have done this again." He stood and began to dress.

"What do you mean? This was all your idea. From the beginning. You swore you loved me. I would never have let this go so far, had I known you didn't think we should do this." She quickly shimmied into her dress.

He smiled at her. "What, did you think? You would shag me for a few months, pull me into your bed and trap me into marriage? Not likely." He picked up his shoes and slipped it on. "Maybe you should go."

She picked up one of his shoes and threw it at his head. "You sorry pureblooded git! How dare you insinuate I would trap you. After all I have done for you! All I asked for was your love." She stood and reached the door. "Apparently it was too much to ask!"

"You harpy!" He hissed. "Thank Merlin my girlfriend is not such a nag!"

The girl froze. Your girlfriend. Thunder clapped, and a streak of lightning lit up the sky behind her. Girlfriend. "You rotten, acromantula sucking, bastard!"she whispered. "You will regret this!" she screamed as the thunder struck again. "If it is the last thing I do, you will regret this!"

"You bastard!" Badb whispered. She had spent the day gathering herbs for her healing arts. She had gotten ill and went to the wise woman in the glen. She had come to tell her husband the news. She was pregnant. Finally.

"How could you not see this coming, you harpy?" Neit responded cooly. He pointed to her things, neatly piled outside the stone gate of their castle. "Get your things and go. My new wife is arriving at dawn."

"Why my love, why?" she wailed in sorrow and fury. "I have always loved you. Since our marriage, your holdings have increased tenfold. Why would you replace me?

He looked at her coldly. "I need a fresh young wife to give me strong sons. Ten years, we have been married, and not even so much as a miscarriage! I need sons to carry on my name." He pointed at her things. "Get your things and be gone." He said in an icy tone. "I never want to see you again."

Sobbing, Badb gathered her things and disappeared into the stormy night. "You will regret this!" she whispered as lightening lit up the sky. "If it is the last thing I do, you will regret this!"
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