Nymphetamine pt 11
They spent the night held in each other's arms, twirling and dipping to the beautiful music of the band. They drank fine wine in between dances and kisses. They stepped away for a moment, stepping onto the balcony overlooking the courtyard. The night was clear, stars twinkling above them, mirroring the snow on the ground. Draco stood behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist and intertwining his fingers with hers. He nuzzled into her neck, his breath tickling the pale flesh in front of it. He left a small kiss, lifting his head and turning her around to face him.
"Are you enjoying your Christmas Hermione?" She smiled up at him, her eyes shining like chocolate diamonds.
"This is the best Christmas I've had in a long time. Originally I was just going to stay at Hogwarts…seeing as my parents are still recovering parts of their memories, I was told staying away from them would be best."
"I'm glad you are enjoying yourself. I too, am glad I had this little gathering. You don't have to…but I'd like you to stay with me tonight. I have…things…I would like to discuss with you." Hermione's smile grew.
"I will happily stay with you tonight! I never want it to end. Even in the world we live in…this is truly magical." Draco ran his thumb down Hermione's cheek, following her jawline. He leaned in to kiss her, when the door startled them both.
"Sorry if we are intruding. Just trying to get some air." Blaise said, a fake apology playing on his lips. Draco waved them over.
"It's ok. We were doing the same thing. The stars look amazing tonight." Blaise and Pansy joined them, staring at the sky.
"This was a wonderful Christmas celebration Draco. It's a shame your mother couldn't be here to see the amazing job you did setting all of this up." Draco smiled sadly, shrugging his shoulders.
"I'm sure she's doing much better in France. Though I'll have much to tell her in my next letter." He pulled Hermione closer against the chill. She happily accepted, snuggling in closer to him. Pansy looked at the two of them, sighing.
"I see things are working out for the two of you. Who would have thought?" She swooned. Blaise playfully punched Draco in the shoulder, ignoring the pained look on his face afterward.
"It truly is a miracle. Proof that two sides can put aside their differences and join hand in hand." Hermione laughed, the air tickling Draco's chest.
"I have to agree with Blaise. I never would have imagined dining and dancing with the elite. I figured I'd always just be a…mudblood." She looked at her arm sadly, the pale pink scars showing against her pale skin. Draco scowled.
"We all have scars we aren't proud of Hermione." He said, raising his sleeve, exposing the pink scar from his dark mark, pushing their arms together. "See? We both have scars that hurt us. But we have risen above the meanings behind them, and have grown and united. And that, my dear, is a reason to celebrate." He kissed the pale scars on her forearm, making her shiver.
"I, for one, am glad I got to witness this union." Pansy swooned. She looked at the door, seeing the bodies dispersing.
"We should get back inside, everyone is beginning to leave." Her and Blaise turned to enter the house. Draco kissed Hermione on the forehead.
"You know, I really need to thank them. Honestly without them a lot of this probably would have never happened." She laughed.
"Don't tell me, the infamous Draco Malfoy needed wingmen to get a date." They looked into each other's eyes, and promptly started laughing.
"Let's get inside." He said, ushering her back into the manor.
Everyone was gone, aside from the two of them. They quickly cleaned the dining room with a round of scourgify spells. Draco looked at the clock, it was eleven, one hour to midnight.
"Hermione…there's something I want to show you." He said, taking her hand and guiding her down the hallway. "Well, a few things actually." They came up to a door. "Do you trust me?" He asked, his voice slightly shaking, his nerves creeping up on him. Hermione smiled.
"Honestly…yes. I do trust you Draco." She said through her smile. He returned her smile, a warm feeling in his stomach.
"Good, now close your eyes." She did as she was told, and Draco pushed open the doors. He grabbed her hand once more, leading her into the room. "Okay, open them." She did, and her jaw dropped.
"Draco…it's so lovely!" She said, staring in awe at the giant library she was standing in. It almost rivaled Hogwarts. Draco wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"It's all yours my dear. I know everything with your parents is rough, to put it lightly, and things get lonely around here as well. I was wondering…" He paused a moment, causing her heart to skip a beat. "If you would come live with me after school. I live here alone, so some company would be nice." Hermione felt her breath hitch in her chest. He was asking her to live with him, she couldn't believe it.
"Draco…" She paused, turning to face him. She could see the nervousness in his eyes. She smiled, putting her hand to his face. "Yes. I will live with you." He beamed, something she had never seen before.
"Then it's settled. Hermione, this library is yours to do with what you like." She hugged him tight.
"Thank you so much! For everything." He kissed the top of her head. "What else did you need to show me?" Draco's expression turned grim.
"I'll warn you. This…isn't as beautiful as the library." He pulled out a bottle and a syringe. Hermione cringed as he rolled up his sleeves, exposing his bruised arms. "You see…I'm cursed. I had a moment of weakness over the summer and ended up way in over my head. If I don't complete a quest, my days will run out. I have a woman guiding me, the soul of the woman being inside this bottle." He took the needle, injecting it into his vein, a hiss of pain escaping his lips. Just as he finished, a mist began to form In front of them, taking the shape of a woman, no more than twenty three years old, with a slender figure and blonde hair. She looked at Hermione, a happy yet sad look in her eyes.
"This is Lyra." Draco said, motioning towards the mist in front of them. "She's been guiding me towards completing my goal. If I succeed, she gets to reunite with her body. If I fail, her soul becomes devoured, and my replaces her in the bottle." Hermione put her hand over her mouth. Even though she already knew this, she was surprised he told her so easily. Even showing her his guide.
"It's a pleasure to finally talk to you, face to face." Lyra said, floating near Hermione. "I've seen quite the improvement in Draco since you came around. Before you, he was ready to throw his life away. His determination has strengthened, as if you are a reason for him to live." Hermione felt a tear swell up in her eyes.
"Everyone needs something to live for." She looked to Draco, tears clouding her vision. She looked down at his bruised arms once again, a chill running down her spine.
"Lyra has been a huge help. Without her…I would have never found you." He yawned, the events of the evening tiring him out. "I'll show you to the room." He ushered her out of the library, Lyra floating behind them. They walked up the stairs and down the hallway, to a bedroom. It was an elegant shade of green and silver, very Slytherin, she noted.
"I know you weren't planning on staying, so you probably have nothing to sleep in. My mother left some of her unworn night clothes here, I'll go grab you something." He left the room. She looked around at the luxurious room she was in. That was when she spotted it. In a canister on his desk sat a beautiful glowing red flower. She walked over to it, staring in awe at its sheer beauty.
"Beautiful flower isn't it? It's a shame its losing its petals." He laughed bitterly, handing her a silk night gown. Draco walked behind her, unlacing the back of her dress for her. "Don't worry, I'll walk out until you are done changing. I'm just giving you a hand." He kissed her between her shoulder blades, sending shivers down her spine. He once again Left the room while she changed into the night gown. 'Even this is more elegant than what I'm used to and it's for sleeping in.' She thought as she felt the cool silk brush against her skin.
"I'm done." She said. Draco re-entered the room, dressed in his own sleepwear. He pulled the blanket down on his bed and got in, patting the spot next to him. She nervously got in on the other side of the bed, laying her head on Draco's chest. He curled one arm around her, pulling her close.
"If your flower is dying why do you keep it?" She asked. Draco sadly sighed.
"I have no choice. This is my countdown. If I don't accomplish my goal by the time the last petal falls, I lose my soul. It's over half way gone, so there isn't much time left." Hermione muffled a cry and she nuzzled in closer to Draco.
"You will. Your soul is staying where it is." Draco lifted her chin and captured her lips with his. He laid his head back down on the pillow.
"Goodnight love. Thank you for a magical evening." He was almost instantly asleep, no doubt from the potion. She moved her head, turning it towards the flower. Just as she did this, a petal fell off. She turned her head back to lay it on Draco's chest.
"I will never let go." She quietly said as sleep began to capture her mind.
