Hi all,
Another instalment for you. Thanks to those loyal reviewers who always respond with words of encouragement and/or demands for attention. I do need it to stay on top of stuff!
Not too much happens here but it is important to move the story forward. Plenty of movement in the next two chapters to stick with it and stay tuned.
I get that some people feel Draco is taking too long to work his feelings out – but remember she's only been back in the scene for weeks/months and he needs to un-do a lifetime worth of bad habits – so stick with him. These next chapters will be his turning point.
M for mature themes and I don't own HP.
A Well-Timed Intervention
"How dare you Blaise?" yelled Hermione, now finally alone with the nosy wizard in her flat after the Christmas party.
"I WAS WORRIED ABOUT YOU!" Blaise retorted indignantly.
"You invaded the privacy of my mind Blaise! You promised," she yelled back.
"Well you were the one who gave me this fucking ability if I remember correctly, specifically as a part of a wider plan so you didn't have to do what you've just done with Malfoy, among other things," responded Blaise, angrily crossing his arms.
"After all of my warnings…" he added, mumbling as he looked out of the window and down onto the street.
Hermione softened. It was true. All of those years ago, the magic needed to circumvent the law and avoid the Ministry was beyond her, so Blaise had sacrificed some of his own.
Blaise was an exceptionally powerful and talented wizard and was still, to this day, an accomplished wizard, despite what he had shared, but she knew he could have had more and done more, but gave it up for her, something she often felt guilty about.
As a by-product of the magic they undertook that night, they shared a mental connection brought on by the shared magic – similar to the one Harry had with Voldemort years prior, although far more controlled. They had agreed some time ago to specifically that Blaise would avoid the use of this ability. After all, everyone should be entitled to the privacy of their own thoughts.
That said, Hermione's anger subsided somewhat as she thought about all Blaise had given her so she could go on and enjoy her life, free of a forced marriage to a rich, bigoted prat as a teenager. Her husband, her businesses, her life… it was gifted to other by Blaise because of his selfless commitment to their friendship and to her.
Deep down, she knew she should have listened to him, but she had trouble admitting to herself that she was wrong and had acted impulsively, let alone someone else.
"It was just sex Blaise…" she reasoned.
"Really Hermione? Are you lying to me, yourself, or both?" he asked snappily.
"That's unfair…" she responded defensively.
"Hermione, listen to me. He will never give up Astoria or his pureblood traditions. He will never sully the Malfoy name to be with you or deviate from the perfect little elite life planned out for him. He will use you and then he will leave you. Or he will damage you until you have to leave him.
You need to stay away from him. I have known him my whole life. Please believe me. You're my best friend," he pleaded sincerely.
"Blaise, how many wizards have I had casual flings with? Why are you so wound up about Draco?" she asked, ignoring the sinking feeling in her stomach at her friends assertions.
"It's Draco, Hermione. You work with him. You have a blood bond with him. He's not just some guy, and you know it.
Do you know what bonds like that do to people? Look at ours for Merlin's sake! I can see into your fucking mind! What do you think consummating a blood marriage bond will do to you? Do you think there won't be ramifications? It's blood magic Hermione!" he ranted.
For you to have crossed that line… for you to have defied all logic and reason…he had to have got under your skin… you're lying to me when you say it was 'just sex.'
Gods, you know I could check, I could just take a look in that giant brain of yours and get all the answers…but I won't do that again – but I want you to know that I know you are lying to me – andn I think you are a damn fool," said Blaise darkly.
Hermione looked away guiltily.
Blaise was right. She wouldn't have done it with anyone else she worked with. She and Draco had become closer and he had been…different… he had confided in her and joked with her and listened to her and supported her…that's why she gave in. She didn't give in to the Draco Blaise described or the Draco she knew a decade ago. She gave in to a man who seemed, to her, entirely different all together.
She wasn't looking for forever with him, or anything really… not right now – but the idea of being a mistress or a notch on a bedpost didn't sit well with her either. She had been rash and impulsive and let the alcohol and his electric touch get to her, but Blaise was right. All of those intense feelings could have been their blood bond playing tricks on her. Enticing her in – making her believe there was more chemistry than there was. Making her believe it was more significant than it was.
For all she knew, she was just an easy lay at the Christmas party. It's not like it would have been out of character for Malfoy, by all accounts.
"This can come to no good Hermione," warned Blaise, distracting her from her stormy thoughts.
"It was just sex Blaise," she lied through gritted teeth.
"I hope that's the truth Hermione," he replied seriously, seeing right through her, "I really do."
Lucius tried not to meddle in his son's affairs. He really did.
The last time he pushed his beliefs on Draco they wound up serving a madman and narrowly escaping life in Azkaban (or worse). He was a proud man, but sometimes one had to admit when they were…misguided.
That said, he was sure he wasn't wrong about this. It had become clear to him that Draco was not happy with Astoria.
He wasn't quite sure if Draco was unable to dissolve the bond with Granger for the reason he had claimed or if it was because the bond protected him from having to marry Astoria, and, subconsciously, Draco wanted to keep it in place to sabotage the union.
The latter was his best guess presently.
Lucius would never have characterised himself to be a superstitious man, or someone who put much weight in the abilities of psychics – but he had never forgotten the Madam he had seen as a teenager with an uncanny ability to read a room and her eerily accurate visions for the future.
His decision to go to see her had been quite impulsive, and unpopular with Narcissa. He would deal with his agitated wife later – he was far too concerned about his son to worry about that now.
Brushing his arm seductively, the Madam greeted him with the same smile she had decades ago, although she had aged considerably in that time. He responded with a polite nod but stepped away from her briskly. "I am a happily married man now…. I am here about my son," he said, by way of explanation.
"Ah, young Draco. He's grown into quite an exquisite man," she said casually, gesturing for the blonde wizard to sit.
Lucius obliged and sat down on the plush sofa across from her.
"You speak as though you have seen him," said Lucius suspiciously.
"That's because I have," she said matter-of-factly, "He was here with his friends. Two horrid boys. I had one of my girls refusing to take clients for days. There was also a charming young woman with them," she finished.
"Astoria?" he asked.
The Madam giggled. "No, no, not Astoria. Hermione," she said silkily.
"Interesting," said Lucius, narrowing his eyes and examining his fingernails, "and what happened when they came to visit?" he asked casually.
"Now Lucius," she said sweetly, "you know I take my clients' privacy very seriously. You wouldn't want me discussing what you did here all those years ago, now would you?"
Lucius rolled his eyes at the Madam, he knew she had a price, everyone did. "I would, of course, compensate you handsomely for your candour, and it is not so morally reprehensible given it is related to my only son… after all" he said convincingly.
The Madam looked at the large, gold-filled pouch he had surreptitiously placed before her and back to him again.
"What is it you want to know?" she said, smiling.
"Why is it that my son can't dissolve his Marriage Bond with Ms Granger?" asked Lucius.
The Madam smirked and looked at him as though the answer should be obvious.
"Initially, he didn't want to marry the socialite… but things have been changing between himself and his betrothed-by-blood," she said matter-of-factly. "He's rather captivated by her… although hasn't been introspective enough to have got there on his own yet," she said, as if advising someone on menu items or some other largely unimportant matter.
"He's a stubborn boy," conceded Lucius.
"Much like his father," she responded knowingly.
"Yes…quite," replied Lucius, clearing his throat.
"She's not a pureblood, of course you know this Lucius," said the Madam carefully.
"Yes, of course I know," replied Lucius, crossing his arms.
"And you condone this?" she asked.
"If it's what he wants," said Lucius quietly, barely believing it himself.
"Quite the step for you, Lucius. I am pleased for you," she said sincerely. "You should know she is more powerful than your son. More powerful than you or I as well."
"Really?" asked Lucius, leaning in. This certainly made things more interesting. He had always gravitated towards powerful people, it seemed his son had a taste for it too.
"Oh yes, it is coursing through her. It's not just her own. Someone else has gifted theirs to her," she ventured.
"Intriguing…" he said thoughtfully, "friend or lover?"
"Friend," she responded firmly. Lucius was pleased there was not some other wizard he needed to contend with, should his son choose to pursue her. In this day and age, one could not dispense with enemies and romantic rivals quite so easily. It was all very inconvenient.
"And my son and Hermione… did they…" he trailed off, "while they were here?"
The Madam smiled seductively.
"No…but they wanted to," she said, raising her eyebrows. "I suspect they have by now."
"You suspect" responded Lucius, raising his own eyebrows. The woman's abilities were unapparelled, he hated it when she was vague.
"I know," she corrected.
Lucius ran his hand through his platinum hair, the beginning of a plot forming in his devious mind.
"Lucius, why is it I sense a plan coming to fruition in that mind of yours?" she asked.
"I am sure you can work that out on your own," he replied.
She laughed before taking a long drink of her champagne. Lucius, she noticed, hadn't touched his.
"Be careful when you play with fire," she said thoughtfully.
"It's been a… pleasure…seeing you again," he smiled, every bit as charismatically as his younger son had.
"Off you go," she replied knowingly.
They had been summoned. Literally, by Lucius Malfoy. She had no idea what the man could possibly want with both her and Draco, but she knew she was not looking forward to seeing Draco again after their encounter in her office during the Christmas Party.
He hadn't contacted her since and it seemed rather clear that everything Blaise had said was accurate to an infuriating degree.
As she sat on the opposite side of the couch to Lucius, she was reminded of that day over a decade ago in the Ministry. It all felt very official and…sanitary. It made her skin crawl.
"I suppose you are wondering why I have called you here, especially you, Ms Granger," nodded Lucius, acknowledging Hermione for the first time. A friendly elf had let her in, much to her chagrin.
"Well yes, I must confess, I am rather curious," conceded Hermione.
Draco looked from his father to Hermione with a mixture of curiosity and mortification. What the fuck was his father going to do to the poor girl? Lucius Malfoy summoning the wizarding worlds' most famous muggle-born to the Manor could never be good. Never.
"I would like to introduce you to Mariette Fawcett, an expert on breaking particularly… troublesome...blood bonds and other such… afflictions," said Lucius, delicately. He noted that Draco's back straightened in his seat, a habit his son had when he was particularly nervous or distressed.
Excellent, thought Lucius.
Hermione swallowed hard before asking, "and what particular… methods… do you use Ms Fawcett?"
The small woman smiled warmly at Hermione before responding. "Alternative ones, Ms. Granger."
"Is that code for dark magic?" pressed Hermione. The corner of Draco's lip twitched. It was endearing for Lucius to think he had no idea that his father knew his tells.
It was clear to him that Draco was pleased Hermione wasn't being passive. So was Lucius, but of course all of that would come later, he thought to himself.
"Dark magic is only 'dark' when used for dark purposes," replied Lucius, eerily reminiscent of something she and Blaise discussed years prior.
She turned to Draco, whose gaze was planted firmly on Mariette and remained impassive.
He didn't care. Blaise was right. He had probably planned this with his father. It's not like he had seemed confused by their summons like she had.
Hermione realised in that moment just how stupid she had been. She should have listened to Blaise. Clearly Draco wanted to break the bond and move on with his life.
What more did she expect?
She figured that if that's what he wanted, who was she to deny it to him?
The process itself was simple, but it differed from all previous attempts. Hermione barely took notice and avoided eye contact with Draco as much as possible. The entire thing was uncomfortable and anxiety inducing.
Lucius had watched her like a hawk, much to her annoyance. What in the hell did he think she was going to do, steal the Malfoy family silverware?
When the small witch declared the process a success, Hermione simply felt empty.
Lucius looked delighted and Draco continued to maintain a blank stare.
When Draco walked her to the door, few words were exchanged, only pleasantries. After all, what was there left to say? He got what he wanted all along. The bond was broken and he was free to marry his perfect, pureblood princess.
She was hardly the kind of woman to stick around to be humiliated. If she could survive a war, torture and the loss of a husband, she could survive Draco Malfoy hurting her feelings.
That said, she made a mental note to listen to Zabini the next time he had romantic advice – particularly where Slytherins were concerned.
Lucius watched the scene unfold from the top of the stairs. He observed a clearly devastated Hermione Granger bidding farewell to his oblivious, idiot of a son. It would have been endearing if it wasn't so bloody irritating.
When the door closed, he watched Draco press his head to it, clearly distressed by what had happened.
If he didn't think he was being such a twat, he may have been impressed by the blank, unreadable stare he had projected throughout the afternoon. Not that it had done him any favours. He needed to come clean to Hermione, himself and his girlfriend. Malfoy stoicism wasn't the right tactic here.
If Draco truly wanted Hermione, he would have to go after her now. If Astoria was what he wanted, there was no longer an excuse to delay. As far as he was concerned, he had simplified the choice.
"You had better get home to that, soon to be, fiancé… of yours… Draco," he said knowingly.
The colour seemed to drain entirely from his son's face.
Excellent, thought Lucius deviously, he had him right where he wanted him. Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.
Next chapter: Things seem hopeless, but then again, not everything is as it seems where Lucius Malfoy and his scheming are concerned.
As I said previously, these next chapters will be the turning point for Draco facing up to his feelings and getting rid of some long-held beliefs that are holding him back.
Responses:
Clarkfan325: I hope this chapter covered off a bit more of Hermione's thinking in sleeping with Draco without putting up much of a fight. Their working relationship is definitely set to change and Astoria won't be on the scene too much longer.
Sam Wallflower (Iris): You were right – a conversation between Hermione and Blaise! He certainly knows she isn't vulnerable – but he also knows Draco can be quite the snake. I am glad you liked the lemon and I hope you liked the new chapter.
Missmusician14: Blaise is wonderful, I am glad Blaise is finally getting the love in the comments he deserved. He was a hard sell in earlier chapters. Glad you liked the lemon – it will definitely have repercussions.
Imranramji1: Here is chapter 12. I assume you demand 13 now? Lol!
Pgoodrichboggs: Thanks for your review. You're pretty much on to a winner with all of your observations. Oh no! I am predictable! But hopefully in a good way.
kUkANAbAYbEE: She may need to be in the office less given what is going on between them. As for who Draco chooses, tune in to the next few chapters.
Mrs Haloona : Good observations, particularly about the heartbeat. That'll come up later.
BoredRavenvlaw620: Like a drug… I like that. May use that!
Munzke11: Who doesn't love lemons? Blaise will not kill Draco – but he sure is going to want to a few times!
Marianna79: Hope this answered your question. Yep. He is going to revert to stupidity briefly – and Hermione is going to be pissed.
Sassanech: Combustible indeed. BOOM.
Black Banshee, JLLove, princessingrid, chapou69, RufusReads, talim258, elacartier: THANK YOU!
