Chapter Twelve:
He watched her sleep for some time, but the long night finally caught up with him as well. He buried his face in her warm neck and pulled her body flush to his. She murmured in her sleep. It was a happy sound…blissful almost. Certainly more than happy. He considered that for a moment. It had been a very long time since his presence had made anyone happy….
He didn't sleep nearly long enough before he heard someone knocking persistently at the door.
Cursing under his breath, he did some of the quickest spellwork he'd done since Voldemort died: a cleansing spell on himself, quickly dressing, removing the robes and the…traces of their escapades from the main room…
There was a second knock as he shut the bedroom door.
"Draco."
He stood aside to let the younger man in the room, avoiding the glare of the Greengrass puppy who was stationed outside the door.
Draco smirked slightly as Severus shut the door, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"An auror at the door? I didn't realize your fan club was quite that persistent. I can take a few dozen of them off your hands if need be…"
Severus snorted. "If I didn't like you so much boy, I'd poor polyjuice down your throat and shove you out the door to them."
Draco chuckled. "No thank you sir. If I can't seduce them with my good looks, charm, and extensive Gringotts account, I suppose they will just have to be left to camp out in hallways, hoping to get a go at you."
"Is this a business matter Draco or did you come by just to annoy me?"
"I brought the papers you requested. And if I were trying to annoy you I'd do a better job of it." Severus laughed as Draco handed him the binder. "The lawyers have gone over her current contract…I'd love to know who she used to negotiate it. They must have had the Ministry by the short hairs to get some of the concessions that are in this thing…"
Severus smirked. "You can ask her some time, but I might wager that she negotiated it herself."
Draco looked around the room. "Is she the reason why you have Daphne Greengrass' annoying cousin pouting at your door?"
Severus nodded absently as he went over the sheaf of papers in his hand. "Her fan club is even worse than mine. It's a bit of an issue, as I said."
Draco smirked. "She's here now?"
"She's asleep."
Draco raised a single brow again. "Oh? And why would our Miss Granger be tired. Something keep her up last night?"
Severus penned his godson with a look. "Never refer to her as 'Our' Miss Granger again Draco."
He was surprised to hear the level of purring threat behind those words, and so was Draco. The younger man had always been secure in his godfather's affection…even teasing him relentlessly when no one else would dare.
"Easy Severus. You haven't recently discovered that you're part Veela have you?"
No, I've always been a possessive bastard when it came to relationships.
Snape didn't feel the need to say that part out loud.
"The implication that I am unreasonably over-protective of her is not lost on me Draco."
Draco gave him a small smirk. "Never thought it would be. So…wedding gifts…"
He wasn't shocked when his godfather slapped the back of his head…hard.
She was beautiful. But her beauty was not as appealing as her mind. That was why each heart was placed where she could see it…so she could work out the spells that were being cast…to prepare her. It was an old, old ritual…used long before wizards had discovered wands. The spell took three times three weeks to cast, required the hearts of nine magical creatures...
In one week the full moon would rise, and that night the spell would finally be complete. One final heart to seal the spell, each drop of blood, each sacrifice, each layer of magic that had been cast…one week from now it would all be worth it.
AN: Sorry, this is a short one! It was just the 'right' pace to stop… I'll post Chapter 13 tomorrow!
