Chapter 24… Sovereignty…
A/N: Thank You to my Beta LikeLuna. Thanks so much to all my Readers. And double thanks to everyone who reviewed. I do actually read and take them into account, which is the main point of this AN. Usually when I do lemon/limes, I put them in a separate chapter. However, I've been told that this stops the flow of the story, and I can't have that…hehe. So just as an FYI there is a Lemon/lime, at the beginning.
I even posted early...
Chapter 24… Sovereignty…
Hermione woke to the bright rays of sunshine warming her skin. Expecting to be in her room, it was quite a shock when she opened her eyes and saw the pure blue sky above her, the crystal clear water in front of her, the vividly colored plants surrounding her, and the most beautifully romantic Git in the world beside her.
The last brought a smile to her face as she watched him sleep. He appeared so serene and peaceful…amazing how deceiving looks could be. She felt a half smile tug at her lips, as a wicked idea popped in her head. Hermione started trailing her finger lightly done the center of his perfect chest before stopping suddenly. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea. What if he wasn't in the right mood, or didn't like being woken up by her. Or worse yet, what if he didn't want to do that anymore. They hadn't actually talked about that.
They had been getting along so well, she didn't want to risk making him angry so soon; but weren't guys supposed to want sex all the time? He certainly didn't seem happy about his forced abstinence at school; so maybe he wouldn't mind so much. But then again, he had always instigated things, what if he found her forwardness repulsive. Hermione groaned in her head. It wasn't like her to be indecisive or unsure of herself, but she couldn't seem to help it. "Why must things be so confusing?" she whispered out loud but at an inaudible level. 'It might not be so bad…really, what's the worst that could happen' she pondered to herself, trying to find a logical solution. 'He could run screaming from the island and I'll be stuck here…he could sneer in disgust and never speak to me again…he could laugh in my face and I'll never want to speak to him again. All decidedly bad reactions…but he could be pleasantly surprised and give you the shag of a lifetime…' Hermione felt a shiver of anticipation run through her body as she remembered all their previous times. "Could be worth the risk" She continued her barely audible musings.
Draco fervently prayed to the powers-that-be that whatever she was contemplating she would decide on quickly. He thought he had an idea, but he wouldn't be able to find out without letting on that he was awake. Not that he had much choice in that anyway. Her fingers were tracing delectable lines down his abs, and if she kept it up…well he wouldn't be able to hide the fact that, at least certain parts of him, were indeed awake. He stifled a groan as her delicate fingers brushed over the indenture of his belly button.
After another minute of her tantalizing petting, he cracked his eyes open but was careful to keep his breathing deep and even. He wasn't ready to give up on her yet.
She was staring down at him, but he could tell she wasn't really looking at him at all. No, she was off in her own thoughts. Her hair was wilder than usual, her bottom lip was caught between her teeth and he thought she was the most beautiful person in the world, bed head and all.
He inwardly smiled, telling himself he would wait all day for her to make up her mind. That was until her lazily drifting hand wandered down to the area above his sleep pants, and glided smoothly back up again. His breath hitched noticeably and he winced when his body jerked in response to the butterfly like touch. So close. She was driving him insane and she didn't even realize it.
His sharp intake of breath caught her attention 'Merlin! He's waking up…now or never Hermione what's it going to be?' she challenged herself.
'Wolfsbane and tymdium…stir clockwise adding 3 counter-clockwise stirs every 6th clockwise one. Wait three hours and add a drop of Gaylord sap every 5th hour for 2 days….' Draco recited potion ingredients in his head. Reasoning it was a fool proof way to calm his aching body. It was doing a reasonable job too, at least until he felt her lips on the column of his throat, kissing and sucking softly.
Hermione blinked up at the sky, wondering how in the world that got there. A minute ago she had mustered up her courage and decided to go for it. She wanted to seduce her husband. As a general game plan, she was going to start with the spot on his neck, she had noticed that he always growled really loudly when she kissed him there, so it was a sound plan in her mind. She'd dived right for it, and now she was lying flat on her back.
"Took you long enough…" Draco growled in her ear, as he alternated licking and nipping the sensitive lobe, causing her to moan in response. "…Or where you trying to drive me out of my mind?"
"Wha…what? You were awake?" Hermione tried to gather her wits as his lips continued wreaking havoc on her and his hand trailed down her body, leaving a raging fire in its wake.
"Well one doesn't sleep while one is being tortured with pleasure…didn't even know that was possible until today." Giving the tantalizing spot a final lick, he sat up and leisurely reached for her hand; which had somehow found its way around his neck. Uncurling her fingers, he said "This has been tormenting me…I should thank it properly." he placed a kiss at the very center of her palm before making a trail of kisses down each and every one of her fingers.
He smiled into her palm as he felt her hand shake.
"I'm supposed to be seducing you." Hermione said breathlessly as he worked his way down her arm and over her shoulder.
"Really?...that idea certainly has promise," he brought his head up so that his forehead was resting on hers and their eyes locked.
She could feel his breath on her lips, his mouth just a hairsbreadth away from hers and she couldn't suppress the shudder of anticipation that traveled down her body.
"Although, if I remember correctly It was I that promised to make love to you on the beach." His lips brushed hers as he spoke.
"So you did" her breath fanned against his lips and he inhaled deeply, it felt like he was taking her essence, into himself. Hermione watched transfixed, it was a simple thing, breathing. But at that moment, it felt like the most intimate. Sharing breath, life, with another person. "I suppose I can seduce you next time?"
"It would be my pleasure." He murmured before crashing his lips down upon hers. It was a kiss filled with hunger and raw need, desire and a strange softer emotion he couldn't begin to identify; but found irresistible anyway.
Though they had kissed many times before, this one was different. It was a kiss unlike any other they had shared. Gone was the battle of wills, and the quest for dominance. In it's place was all consuming passion, emotion. She poured everything she ever felt for him into that kiss, and he found himself doing the same; devouring everything she gave to him, and giving back with everything he had in him.
They were seeing spots before they broke apart, but that didn't stop them. No sooner than they had taken another breath, their lips fused again. It was impossible to tell who had reached for who, and neither one of them cared. All that mattered was that they were able to touch, to taste, to be.
Hermione felt his hands travel down her body and moaned into his mouth. The friction of his skin on hers sent wave after wave of liquid fire pooling in the center of her body. She couldn't think of anything save the need to have him in her, filling her until there was no telling where she stopped and he began. He was getting closer to where she needed him, but he was taking his time and she felt like screaming in frustration.
She brought her legs up until they were wrapped around his waist. Her hands were on his back, in his hair, anywhere and doing anything to be just closer.
Draco drew his finger down the center of her body, parting her delicate fold and causing her to cry out and him to harden painfully. She was definitely ready for him, dripping with heat. She felt like liquid flames that would consume him in ecstasy and he couldn't wait another second.
Breaking their kiss, he grabbed both her hands and held them above her head before placing the tip of his erection against her silken opening. Breathing heavily, he buried his head in her hair. He wanted go slowly. He wanted her to scream his name, so that he would know she needed him half as much as he needed her.
He nuzzled her ear again, all the while slipping into her with infinite slowness.
Hermione moaned in frustration arching her back trying to get as much of him as possible.
"easy luv…we have all the time in the world." he crooned and smiled at her growl of frustration.
She allowed his exquisite torture for another 2 seconds, before taking matters into her own hands. Sliding her lips around to the base of his neck again, she bit and sucked…hard.
Her sudden attack made him throw back his head and arch his back in pleasure, sliding him in a good bit further. "Minx." He growled.
"Git" she retorted breathlessly, still reeling from the sudden fullness; It was bliss.
"We're going to go slow." He clenched his teeth, trying to ignore the silken heat he was buried in. Wanting to make it last.
"Go slow later." She moaned, wanting him to move.
"I want you to enjoy this."
"If I enjoy it anymore I'll die and then we wont be able to do it again" She clenched her muscles, making Draco throb and flex within her "Please Draco…" she cried kissing him wherever she could reach. It was an acute form of agony.
"Leave it to you to be logical." He said giving in to her cry's, which is what he wanted. He withdrew until just the tip was encased inside her, and then surged back in with one powerful thrust. She wasn't logical after that.
He stretched and filled her, and it wasn't long before the dams broke open and she was carried off on the waves of rapture. She couldn't think of anything but how wonderful it felt, how right; complete.
Draco felt her body shudder under his, and he moved faster and faster. Giving her body no time to come down, no time to relax, sending her crashing on another wave of pure unadulterated bliss; where he joined her soon after.
"Welcome ladies, to the Garden of Eden. What name would the reservations be under?" The snotty looking man at the door asked, making it more than clear that reservations were needed to get inside.
Narcissa's eyes narrowed slightly, at the question. What type of imbecile was he not to recognize her? "Malfoy," She said with all the superiority and disdain her status warranted.
"Of course, of course. How silly of me." He snapped his fingers, and young waiter with warm hazel eyes, appeared. "Maxwell will take you to your terrace and see to your every comfort. If there is anything you need please do not hesitate to ask… Enjoy ladies," The host crooned, bowing slightly.
Narcissa walked by without another word and Hermione was hard put not to laugh. Obviously, the maître d' had ruffled her pure-blooded feathers. "Thank you," Hermione said and offered the man a small sympathetic smile, which he returned.
The place stank of money and influence and people with too much free time. Silk walls and floors made of gold, Hermione only hoped Narcissa didn't want to linger overly long. Hermione walked behind Narcissa and their attendant. Heads turned and whispers followed them as they made their way through the main dining room, down a sun lit hallway. There were archways on either side at set intervals that led to the private dining rooms, and it was from one of these that Narcissa heard her name being called.
"Narcissa! Narcissa, Darling!"
The group stopped, and Narcissa turned her cold blue eyes to the obviously ill mannered patron.
"Bronwyn," Narcissa said as she walked out onto the terrace, beckoning Hermione to follow.
The lady calling out, a rather bony woman with large eyes and a pinched mouth, stood and gave Narcissa a kiss on each cheek. "Narcissa darling, it's been far too long. Why I was just telling my daughter-in-law that I would have to call on you soon, seeing as you were back in town for the holidays. Oh, but how rude of me. Meggan, come here, child. I want you to meet a dear friend of mine. Narcissa Malfoy."
The girl in question stepped forward. "A pleasure to meet you Mrs. Malfoy," she said cautiously, as though not sure what to expect from the new arrival.
So far no one had paid much attention to Hermione, and she rather liked it that way. She had no idea who Bronwyn was, but figured if she were a 'dear friend' of Narcissa's, she probably didn't want to.
Her peace was to be short lived as Narcissa chose the next moment to make the proper introductions. "Charmed…" she nodded to Meggan before saying, "What a coincidence. I came with my daughter-in-law as well. Hermione, this is Mrs. Bronwyn Nott, and Mrs. Meggan Nott. Ladies, Hermione Malfoy."
"Nice to meet you, ladies." Hermione said automatically, though it really wasn't. She didn't imagine the Notts and she had anything in common. Though, come to think of it, she didn't imagine the Malfoy's and she had anything in common and look where she was now.
Meggan was another story. She was in Hermione's year. A bit on the plain side with her short brown hair and lackluster green eyes; but she had seemed like a decent enough person from class.
"Hello Hermione, having a nice break?" Meggan asked with a genuine smile.
"Yes, it's been lovely. And you?" she asked.
"Oh not bad. I went to visit my parents for a bit, but it's been quiet since then," she answered warmly, happy to have someone normal to talk to.
"I see you two are acquainted." Bronwyn made the comment to Meggan. She hadn't addressed Hermione directly. The slight made Hermione want to laugh.
Narcissa wasn't as forgiving, but didn't say anything…yet.
"Yes, we have a few classes together." Meggan addressed the elder Mrs. Nott, with a little exasperation. Theodore's parents tended to wear on her patience; Theodore too for that matter.
Bronwyn gave a sniff, but turned to Narcissa as though the previous conversation had never happened. "Narcissa darling, you realize June 20th is just around the corner."
"Of course, how could I forget? I assume you're having your annual garden party?" Narcissa asked with feigned interest, fingering the blue stone around her neck; her only indication of boredom.
"I shouldn't imagine why not. We've had one every year since before I was born." The woman made a high pitched sound, that Hermione assumed was supposed to be laughter. "I don't know what I would do without having my Garden party. I swear the year just wouldn't feel the same. Why… I was talking to Isabella, that's Mrs. Zabini," she added to Meggan, who rolled her eyes as soon as Bronwyn looked away. "As I was saying, I was talking to Isabella, and she said she would bring her lovely daughter-in-law, Marietta. Charming young lady she is. I'm sure you'll absolutely adore her. You will be coming won't you Narcissa? It wouldn't be the same without you" That was the third time she had completely snubbed Hermione, much to Hermione's amusement.
"June is a busy time for me, Bronwyn, I'll have to check my schedule." Narcissa intoned coolly.
"Well, you have a bit of time yet. I won't be sending the official invitations out until March. But, don't terry too long; you know how much you enjoy yourself at our estate." She made that high pitch sound again, and the company fought to keep from wincing.
Meggan's hands gravitated towards her hips, as she gave her mother-in-law an affronted glare, before turning to Hermione. "You really should come too, Hermione. It's supposed to be an event to remember."
Hermione was sure Bronwyn, was going to have a heart attack; but whether it was from Meggan's invitation, or the obvious sarcasm in her voice when she'd issued it, was up for debate.
"I'm sure Hermione has other pressing matters to attend to that day, Meggan. It really is rude to try and force her." Her sickeningly sweet voice didn't mask the contempt. "I'm always having to correct her manners. But she's a good child, just the same." Mrs. Nott's whisper carried throughout the room, causing Meggan's eyes to narrow.
"Just so dear," Narcissa said. "Hermione and I are sure to have some pressing matters to see to that day, as you said. But I'll send word to you as soon as I know for sure." Narcissa's smile was nowhere close to being sincere.
The lunacy of the conversation seemed to be lost on the elder adults, although Hermione and Meggan were quite aware of it. The latter rolled her eyes, but didn't try to interfere again. The former was trying very hard not to laugh. The self-centered behavior of pure-blood society never ceased to amuse her.
"We'll have to catch up at another time. I'm sure our tea is waiting for us, as is yours. Have a lovely afternoon Bronwyn, Meggan." Before Bronwyn could protest Narcissa's inclusion of herself in the refusal, Narcissa was walking back towards the door and their waiting escort.
"Ladies," Hermione acknowledged before leaving with Narcissa.
"Bye Mrs. Malfoy, Hermione." Meggan called with a congenial wave and smile, earning her a glare from Bronwyn, which only made her smile wider.
Hermione caught up with Narcissa, and they followed the attendant, who had been waiting patiently at the door, into another terrace like tea room. After seating them both he left and came back a few seconds later with a line of waiters, each bearing a tray of delectable morsels and tempting treats; and the final bearing a large ornate pot of tea and all its trimmings.
Once they were alone, surrounded by a sideboard of food, Narcissa let her mask of cool indifference fall. There was marked fury in her ice-blue eyes. "I really do dislike that woman." She buttered her bread with vengeance.
Hermione just smiled. "Don't be mad on my account. I thought that was the funniest thing ever." At Narcissa look of incredulity, she laughed and explained. "I mean honestly, she obviously doesn't like me and the worst thing she can think to do to me is deprive me of her company? Horror that is; I'll cry all night." Hermione laughed some more as she placed some fruit on her plate.
"You have a perverse sense of humor" Narcissa said dryly, not seeing anything funny in the way Bronwyn had tried to snub Hermione. It didn't matter that she, herself, had snubbed Hermione on two occasions. No, Hermione was a Malfoy now, and that made all the difference.
They ate in silence for a bit, before Narcissa's temper got the better of her. "It simply won't be tolerated."
"What?" Hermione was confused. She didn't think she's done anything disagreeable, but Narcissa was fickle, so you could never be sure.
"Her insolence…Her audacity …To think she could slight a Malfoy….Absolutely preposterous."
"Don't let it bother you, I"
"Of course I'm going to let it bother me. It's not just your name she's trying to undermine, child." Narcissa explained with no little impatience. "It's the entire Malfoy name, the reputation, and power that she's trying to undermine and I will not have it. I don't care if you were a hag from that God forsaken American continent…you are a Malfoy and as such, above her." She never raised her voice, but the anger was more than obvious.
Hermione saw a cold glint form in her eye, and mentally prepared herself. She knew that glint. That was the glint Draco got whenever he was determined to do something, be it right, wrong, or in between.
"Visey!" Narcissa called.
Not two seconds later a crack could be heard, and the little elf appeared from under the table. "Mistress called?"
"Yes. Go to Madame Turvie's and tell her I will be in need of her services soon, I'll owl her with the details and schedule a time for her to visit. Then inform both Lucius and Draco that on June 20th I require their presence, and have my charts and notebooks ready for me when I return."
"Yes Mrs." Visey popped away without another word.
"Don't schedule anything for June 20th." Narcissa told her, a content smile playing around her lips as she sipped her tea.
Hermione didn't understand what she was so happy about. "I take it you've decided to go to Mrs. Nott's garden party." She deliberately didn't mention herself.
"And let that arrogant cow, think she won. Absolutely not." She looked affronted "We're having our own little party and believe me when I say: Everyone who matters will be in attendance." If not for its vindictive origins, her smile could have light up the room.
"Narcissa…wait, just hear me out," Hermione pleaded, as she stepped out of the fireplace into the main sitting room, the Ivory Sitting room, at Malfoy manor.
Narcissa turned with a flourish of robes and said, "No Hermione, I've heard you. For the last hour, I've heard you. You don't like my idea; you don't like the idea of vengeance or right order or any thing else natural. But now, you will hear me. This is the world we live in, accept it. Whether you like it or not, other people's perceptions matter and they affect you. This family's reputation may not mean much to you, but I've spent the better part of my life guarding it. Preciously. I will do what I have to do to maintain it. Merlin knows, you want nothing to do with the social aspects of life." She said with a delicate sigh, "I can only hope to have granddaughters who will have a care for it when I'm gone. Until then it is my responsibility and I will deal with threats as I see fit. To be quite frank, I do not need your help, or your permission, or even your blessing. If you don't like it stay out of the way."
"All I'm saying is this probably isn't the best way to handle it," Hermione argued. "In the long run, all this is going to accomplish is losing you a friend."
"She's not, nor has she ever been; my friend." Narcissa said congenially
"Well it certainly won't win her over to you." The fact that Narcissa could talk about this, as if her actions were completely normal and justified confounded Hermione so much, she thought she may have been hexed.
"That is assuming I want her as a friend. I do not. Would you prefer that I run to her estate wand drawn, and start hexing her? Mayhap get a mask? Or ride a muggle motra-sickle." The disdain and contempt Draco and Lucius were able to put behind a sneer, Narcissa could invoke with a smile; and that was slightly more unnerving.
"You know I wouldn't," Hermione grit out. "But just think for a minute of how upset she's going to be. You heard her, 'I don't know what I'd do without my garden party.' It really means a lot to her."
"It's a tradition, actually. Her grandmother started it when her mother was born, and it's been going on ever since."
"Well there you are…" Hermione latched on. "How can you break a tradition? I realize she's not the nicest of people, but wouldn't it be much more mature, not to mention a whole lot easier, to just go and talk to her about it. Destroying her party just seems so…mean."
"I'm not destroying it; she'll still be completely free to continue on. In fact, I'm not certain I'll even invite her to mine, so she shouldn't have a problem in the least." Narcissa flashed her a cold smile, as she waited for Hermione's next attack.
"But she'll be devastated when no one turns up for it," Hermione interjected.
"Mayhap she should take more care in choosing her enemies," Narcissa said sweetly. "And you never know. Maybe people will choose hers over mine."
"Yeah, that's likely…How are you spinning it again? Oh that's right. 'The day that never dies…Gala to celebrate Draco and Hermione's one year anniversary.'" Hermione scowled. "You just had to throw us in there."
"Well, I had to make it tempting. You two are juicy news. I've gotten dozens of notes, asking me how you two were getting on. You made quite an impression and a few friends at the Parkinson affair." Narcissa nodded her head in acknowledgement of her accomplishments. "Oh yes, you're quite the talk of the table."
"It doesn't hurt that I'm friends with Harry Potter, either." She muttered sardonically.
Narcissa smiled, her naiveté was rather refreshing, if misguided. "No, that doesn't hurt either."
"And you don't find it the least bit cruel and unnecessary?"
"Not in the least. Think of it this way. Retaliating hard, once; is much better than retaliating softly a thousand times."
"What about Meggan?"
"What about her? She didn't want to go any more than you did."
A crack rent through the air, and Hendell appeared in the middle of the two women, forestalling any comment Hermione may have made. "Mrs. Hermione, There is owls for you in your sitting room. They is not letting me take the notes Miss."
"See to your mail, Hermione." Narcissa said in an almost kind voice. "I understand your morals won't let you like this, just please ...do not try interfere. It's for the best. Oh and well have to try our tea again another time...when there aren't rude interruptions"
Narcissa left, and Hermione moodily made her way up to her room. She was shocked at what she found. There had to be at least 20 owls sitting around the room. The hooting srtarted as soon as she stepped into the room, all of them trying to be the first to garner her attention.
She took the first note, and her jaw practically dropped to the floor. She grabbed the second, and then the third. They were all similar and she couldn't help the excited smile the split her face, all thoughts of Narcissa and revenge gone. Gathering the rest of the notes quickly, she went to her fireplace, unlocked and lit it, before stepping in and saying 'Number 12 Grimmauld place' as she dropped the green dust and whirled out site only to appear a few seconds later in the empty sitting room.
Wasting no time, she called out, "HARRY!! GINNY!! RON!!...WHERE ARE YOU!" she was too excited to wait to tell them.
"IN THE KITCHEN!!" she heard the distinctive voice of her green-eyed friend.
Rushing down the flights of steps, she ran into the room beaming to find him looking over his own slightly smaller stack of letters. "OH! You got them too."
"Of course. Though, you got more. Everyone wants the smartest witch ever huh?" He grinned as she took a seat opposite of him.
"Don't tease," she said smiling. "Where is everyone?"
"Ron and Hannah house shopping again"
"How is he doing that?" she asked quickly.
"Huh?" Harry wasn't sure what she meant.
"House shopping. I've been curious, but I don't want to ask him, because you know how he gets about money and such…How can he afford to go house shopping?"
"Oh," Harry smiled. "At Slughorn's party he mentioned to someone that he was a big fan of the cannon, and before you know it someone else is offering him buckets of galleons to take pictures and be on adverts and all…Least that's the way he tells it," Harry smiled. They'd asked him too, but he'd flat out said, no. He didn't need more stuff with his name and photo on it. "So that's where he gets his galleons from…I reckon he has a fair amount stored, now." Harry mused.
"Well good for him, I'm really glad."
"Yeah… but like I was saying, Ginny went with Pansy, clothes shopping." At her exasperated 'again' he smiled. "They seem to like it," he said off handedly, though he could agree with her feelings on it. "They floo'd to the manor to get you but you weren't there…either day." his casual question was self evident.
"No…I was away yesterday and the evening before, and today I had tea with Narcissa." She shrugged, trying not to blush as she remembered what she'd been doing yesterday.
"Visiting your parents?" he asked curiously.
"No. I was on a bit of a vacation with Draco."
"Oh…well, from the color you turned, I can guess I don't want to hear the details. But I'm glad you two are back to normal now." He patted her hand smiling. "He really isn't all that bad, once you realize he can't help being a git."
"Thank you, Harry." She was glad he didn't pressure her for details. Had Ron been there he probably would have, in hopes of embarrassing Draco later. But Harry didn't and she was glad because she wasn't ready to share her trip with anyone yet. Maybe she never would. It was special and she wanted to keep it that way. "So tell me, who did you get invitations from?" Hermione's excitement came back full force.
"I got an invitation to join the Auror training program," he said smiling. That had always been his dearest ambition. "As well as a few quidditch teams, the Department of Magical Games and Sports, the Department of International Magical Cooperation, and some others I haven't gone through just yet. You?"
"I haven't read them all properly, but I saw an invitation to join the Department of Mysteries, one for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Auror training and St. Mungo's trainee healer program…Isn't this exciting, I can't wait to read them all properly. I don't know which I'll choose. A healer wouldn't be bad, but then so would being an Unspeakable…but…oh I don't know." She finished lamely, grinning again.
They sat in the kitchen, reading letters back and forth to each other and laughing, filled with excitement. They had known that the world was different than it had been just a year ago, but this seemed to make it official. They were sitting discussing the normal and mundane prospect of having to get jobs, and they couldn't have been happier. Both were completely unconcerned with the fact that neither of them actually needed jobs.
The others trickled in slowly. First Ginny and Pansy. Pansy was decidedly not enthused about the prospect of working, but she stayed and gave them her opinion on their job offers. Fred came in looking for Pansy and ended up staying. George and Luna turned up not long after that. Which led to a rousing discussion on the injustice of them not getting any such letters. Hermione explained that it was because they hadn't finished school, but they argued that it shouldn't signify, they were still damned brilliant. Harry tended to agree.
"Just because we didn't want to let 'ole toad face torture us, doesn't mean we're useless. Matter of fact, makes us damned clever." George told her.
"It's not like you would have accepted any of them, you wanted a joke shop. Remember." Ginny said, from her perch on the arm of Harry's chair.
"Course we do. But we still should have been asked. It's only polite. Right Fred?"
Fred, who had been whispering something into a smirking Pansy's ear, replied without missing a beat, "It's only polite."
"What's polite…and what are all you sods doing here?" Ron asked as he and Hannah walked in.
"You've got mail upstairs, Mate…you too Hannah. They should tell you why Hermione's here at least." Harry joked. Ron gave him a confused look, before dashing up the stairs with Hannah.
He had taken over the second largest bedroom, and although it was on the top level, it took him no time to come running back down with a handful of parchments, though he was only interested in one. "They want me to join the Cannons!"
There was a chorus of 'congratulations' and 'well done's' as he grinned.
"I'd have to start off as a back up player, but still…The cannons, " he said the name with awe.
The evening turned into something of a party as Hannah rushed down with her list of invitations, and Neville and Millicent even turned up later. They floo'd for take away, and soon they were all laughing, eating and drinking butterbeer.
Hermione was discussing the pro's and con's of ministry work with Hannah, when Ginny ambled over and asked, "So where's Malfoy hiding now?"
"He went to Berlin with his father, something happened with something…don't really know. He left yesterday."
"Ohh, how was your date? What restaurant did you go to? We want to hear all about it" Hannah said excitedly, she had completely forgotten about it until Ginny mentioned Draco.
Hermione mentally groaned. She had forgotten that she had told Ginny and Hannah about the date. "We didn't actually go to a restaurant, but the date was beautiful." A soft smile formed on her face.
Ginny and Hannah looked at each other before they both doubled over with laughter.
"What?" Hermione asked quickly. Noticing that the others were starting to look at them too.
"Nothing." Ginny tried to catch her breath, "You just look love sick." Ginny did a comical impression of Hermione, with her hands clapped together under her chin. Her eyes holding a far away expression and a vapid smile on her face.
"I do not look like that," Hermione whispered indignantly. Her cheeks turning an becoming shade of red.
"Yes you do." Ginny guffawed again.
"Sorry Hermione, but you did look a bit like that," Hannah smiled apologetically.
"You're both nutters," Hermione muttered.
"So when's lover boy coming back?" Ginny asked, ignoring the withering glare she received from Hermione.
"Draco, is coming back tomorrow…I think."
"You think?"
"He said he should be done by tomorrow, but he wasn't sure." Plus, I wasn't paying much attention because he was doing wicked things with his fingers. But Ginny definitely didn't need to know that. The memory sent shivers down her spine.
As if called by a summoning charm, the blond devil himself stepped into the room, which was curiously crowded. He was still in his traveling cloak, and his hair had fallen into his face, giving him a look of boyish elegance.
Hermione didn't realize she'd been staring until Ginny whispered in her ear, "Just like I said, love sick. Can't blame you really, he's not too bad to look at."
Hermione jumped and quickly made her way over to him, Ginny's laughter ringing in her ears. "Hey."
"Hi. Sorry, I didn't mean to crash your party. I got back and when I asked where you were, mother told me you two had a bit of a row. She wouldn't tell me about what so…" he hunched his shoulders. "… I thought I would find you to make sure you were alright. Mother can be rather…unpleasant, when she has a mind to." He looked slightly embarrassed at explaining in front of so many witnesses; not that they were even paying the least bit of attention to him.
She led him out into the hallway before correcting him, "Unpleasant? Downright nasty is a better description of it, but it wasn't me she was mad at." He was going to ask, but she shook her head to cut him off. "I'll tell you about it later." She didn't want to spoil her good mood with thoughts of Narcissa's petty revenge. Instead she asked," When did you get back? I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow."
"Disappointed?"
The smirk she was starting to recognize as the 'amused but distracted smirk' graced his lips. She idly wondered what else was on his mind. "No, I just wasn't expecting you. I wouldn't have stayed so long had I known you were coming back. I mean, we were starting over and…ummm…well, I guess wives are supposed to greet their husbands when they return…it seems like it would be proper and all. And well…" During her stammering she noted morosely, that she had his undivided attention now.
"You're stammering," he commented, not even trying to hide his amused pleasure. "Are you nervous around me?"
She frowned, not at all happy that her discomfort was so obvious. She blamed it on the fact that she hadn't seen him since the Island. "Thanks for pointing that out," she said waspishly. "We should probably be getting back now…Before they send out a search." She turned back towards the door. "Why don't you come in a and say..." A hand on her wrist effectively stopped her retreat, drawing her back to the spot he was occupying. He pulled her so that she was directly in front of him, and two hands on her waist anchored her to the spot. "Did you want something?" she asked; suddenly finding the hallway to be rather warm.
"I do."
She waited a few seconds, but when he didn't continue she asked, "Well what is it?"
"I'm waiting for that proper greeting you were going on about." He drawled softly, enjoying the way her breath quickened. "Don't tell me you've forgotten already?"
"It's too late now. You've already been back for a time." Smiling impishly, she slid her hands up his chest and stood on her tip-toes, so that her lips hovered dangerously close to his. "Guess we'll have to try again next time."
"Better late than never," he stated before claiming her mouth in a ravenous kiss, which she threw herself into.
It was shaping up to be a rather enjoyable snogging session, or it was until they were unceremoniously interrupted. "Oi!! None of that! This is a family friendly environment."
They broke apart and Hermione took two hasty steps back, turning beet red with embarrassment at being caught. Draco sent a withering glare at the snickering interlopers. "Is that a nice way of saying… 'if you can't get any, no one else should?" he asked snarkily.
"Draco!!" Hermione shrieked, if possible turning a brighter shade of red.
"Just a question," he drawled. "I need to go anyway. I'll see you later."
"Why don't you stay, we got pizza and butterbeer." Harry asked less than enthusiastically from beside a snickering George Weasley. Harry didn't particularly like the reminder that he couldn't 'get any' as Malfoy so eloquently stated; especially since it had been George to disrupt them in the first place.
"I'd rather not," he remarked. Spending time with such paragons of stupidity wasn't on his to-do list.
"Come on, it won't kill you." Ginny stepped squeezed from in-between her brother and boyfriend so that she could walk over and drag him into the room behind him. "You really need to stop being such a baby about this. Do you think Hermione would let them hex you?"
"I was worried more over my state of mind, thank you," Draco said icily as he glared over his shoulder at Hermione, who smiled and waved as the formidable red-head dragged him off.
A/N2: Don't forget to make your way over to Live Journal for the Dramione awards, they have some fantabulous stories nominated so make sure to vote for your favorites.
And before anyone gets upset about my 'American' comment. I am a born and bred American citizen, I vote every year and I love my country, I just think it suits Narcissa to not like my country. So I really don't want to hear how you think I'm anti-American, I'll just laugh. Again this story isn't meant to insult anyone, and I honestly don't think a significant number of people will care. I just happen to be a Psych/Law student, and they drill into us to always cover your bum. So now I have. Thanks so much for reading, and I would love to hear from you.
Isiss