A/N: Hello everyone, long time no see. I hope you're all doing well in these trying times. My sincerest apologies for how long this chapter took. I've been dealing with writer's block and some other personal issues but here we are at last. Anyway, the chapter opens up with a long-overdue lemon so please be guided accordingly. As always, all reviews are greatly appreciated :)
Draco Malfoy had never been so banal as to describe himself as happy. To be certain there were moments that gave him a surge of euphoria. The thrill of riding a fast broom, the rush that came with closing his fingers around the delicate, erratic body of a golden snitch. Even besting Potter and his lot while certainly satisfying wasn't something that he could say made him happy. Recently though, he was willing to say the state of things with Katrina was as close as he'd come to being happy in recent times.
It had been touch and go for a while after she'd accepted his proposal. Ridiculous really, how hard it had been to resume something as simple as being himself. So concerned was he with making sure he didn't say the wrong thing, didn't do the wrong thing, that he had whittled himself away to be a strange caricature. A stretched and warped inferius. He shuddered at the thought, the motion attracting the attention of the girl beside him, large dark eyes turning from the pages of her book to suck him in.
Capturing her lips was something he'd never tire of. The soft sweet sighs she gave shot straight through him. He was vaguely aware of the sound of her heavy book finding a new home on the carpeted floor as her long legs shifted to straddle his body. Draco's hands trailed lightly up her thighs to rest on the swell of her wide hips, fingers tightening their hold as she rolled her hips into his.
When she pulled away to gulp in large mouthfuls of air he attacked her throat, nipping and sucking at the delicate skin that led to her shoulders.
"If you keep that up I'm afraid someone will stumble across us," she said, hands fisting in his hair.
He could only grunt in response, gripping her hips tighter to thrust his straining erection against her cunt. The dampness of her arousal was clinging to his trousers and he could think of nothing better than being buried in her wet heat, potential witnesses be damned.
He was grateful that they'd retired to the adjoining nook off the main common room which afforded them some modicum of privacy. It was unlikely that anyone would stumble across them given the hour. Still, if he wanted to finish what they'd started he knew it would be best to ensure they were uninterrupted. After a few moments of groping for his wand and a few quickly mumbled spells, Draco was able to silence and disillusion their little corner.
Her hand fisting his cock was enough to derail all other thoughts and his head thudded dully against the sofa. This witch would surely be the death of him. She pumped him slowly, twisting her wrist on the upstroke and thoroughly obliterating his good sense. The moan that tumbled from his lips sounded pained. He needed to be inside her, to feel the unrelenting grip of her cunt as he lost himself to pleasure.
The rough bite of ropes at his wrists was enough to snap him from the fog of his arousal, his hands pulled and restrained across the back of the seat. Katrina's smile in response was predatory, the tilt of her head sending the mass of curls tumbling over her shoulder.
"You know Draco, I quite think I enjoy the sight of you all trussed up." The heat of her words licked at his ears as she bent close to whisper. He could smell her arousal from here, the musky odour mixing with the delicate scent of her perfume. He was drowning, eyes rolling back into his head as she gently squeezed just below the head of his cock. Another grunt was all he could manage in response. It was taking considerable restraint to stop himself from rutting to completion against the warm vice she held him in. Words were too much work.
She tsked, cupping his balls, rolling them slowly with her other hand and he'd swear to Merlin himself that stars sparked behind his closed lids.
"If you aren't going to use that pretty mouth to answer me I may have to find something to stuff it with," she said, voice barely above a breathy whisper.
Forget the delicious things she was doing to his cock if she kept up this verbal assault he was going to shoot his load onto her stomach anyway.
"You'll make me come if you keep this up," was all he managed to say, the words coming out in a strangled hiss as she sank down to take him in.
"FUCK!"
She rolled her hips into his and giggled, the sound trailing off into a moan that went straight to his dick where it was currently buried inside of her.
"Shhh, Draco. There's only so much a silencing charm can do."
Tugging at his restraints was useless, the magic she'd used didn't so much as budge. "Dammit Katrina, I need to touch you."
The pace she set was languid, using his shoulders to leverage her movements. If anyone managed to stumble beyond his hasty wards there'd be little doubt as to what they were doing. While her wool skirt provided them with some small modicum of privacy the sound of her pussy taking him in was obscene.
Planting his feet firmly on the floor he snapped his hips into hers on her downward stroke, lodging himself even deeper than before, wrenching a guttural groan from her swollen lips. The pace he set was punishing, the fluttering of her walls signalling her impending fall.
The sudden absence of restraints barely registered in his mind before his hands sought her hips, gripping her tight to slam her down on his cock.
"Love the way you grip me," his voice was rough, his breath laboured.
"Love how fucking wet you are for me."
"Love how you take my cock so good. Fuck!"
He could feel the telltale signs of his impending orgasm, his balls drawing tight.
"Touch yourself for me, love."
It wasn't so much of a request as a demand and her fumbling hands rubbed urgently at her clit.
"Draco, I-"
"I know, love. Just let go. Let me take care of you."
Her hips jerked erratically and her jaw dropped open as a low moan was ripped from her throat, her walls clamping down on his cock. A few more thrusts was all it took before he was spilling his load deep inside of her, hands wrapped tight around her body to hold her in place as she took it all.
She remained cuddled to his chest long after they had cleaned themselves and Draco couldn't stop the lazy smile that claimed his face if he tried.
No, Draco would never say that he'd been one to be described as happy before, but with Katrina things were different.
It was clear that the Yule season was quickly approaching. It could be seen in the decorations that adorned the great hall, in the snow-covered canopy of the forbidden forest which could be seen from the east wing of the castle and the general excitement of the younger years. Yule was a season that Draco general enjoyed. It was a time when his mother would shower him in gifts and his father his foreboding presence. But as the season drew nearer, Draco couldn't help his growing unease.
The Zabini twins were visibly sombre. He couldn't be sure when it had happened nor could he say with absolute certainty what had been the cause but Draco was positive that they were both bracing for something. Katrina was harder to decipher than Blaise, generally withdrawn, to an outsider she would look no different than usual, the same snarky demeanour, the same withering nonchalance, the same distance from the general school population. He knew better now. He could see it in the stiff way she spoke with Blaise in hushed toned apart from the others, in the tension that never seemed to drain from her shoulders, in the careful way she chose precisely what to say, in the meaningful looks she shared with her brother. Her actions were more calculated, much colder. And though she did her best to maintain the same lightheartedness that shaped their current relationship, the weight of her worries followed her, her own personal dementor.
The answer to the conundrum that was the twins' preoccupation came at dinner, a week before the close of the term in the form of a regal owl carrying a letter bearing the Zabini family crest. Calista Zabini had written to inform Blaise of her expectations for the Yule holidays. Her darling Blaise was to return to the manor as soon as was practicable, while 'the girl' could find her own accommodations for the holiday and the foreseeable future. She was certain that the Malfoys could find some use around the property for "an ageing waif" for whom she no longer could find a purpose.
Draco read the carefully written words, again and again, Katrina and Blaise long since departed, the letter given to him with a quickly whispered promise of later.
Shock wasn't the right word to describe how Draco felt about the revelation that Katrina had been disowned. The concept was not foreign to him, though this was the first time that it held weight and permanence, no longer the abstract threat that loomed over the heads of wayward pureblood heirs. His only experience with the practical effects of such a deed was in the whispered conversations and derisive remarks about his aunt and cousin. Led astray by 'mudbloods' and 'blood-traitors' alike. But Katrina was different, had done nothing to deserve the stain on her name that came with such a final move. Nothing but get involved with him. And what good would such involvement do if she no longer held the esteem of a pureblood lady? If he couldn't save her anyway. Draco felt dread settle heavy in his gut, bile fighting its way up to his throat.
He scrambled to write a hasty letter to his father, hoping that the letter would make it on time. He had to save her. It was his fault that she was in this mess to begin with.
When finally he saw the twins again he had received a response from his father and he felt a little lighter with the elder Malfoy's response. Blaise was staring blankly into the fire, Archie perched precariously on his lap doing her best to distract his no doubt morose thoughts while Katrina sat alone in his preferred armchair, legs thrown over one arm, her head the other. She too was staring blankly, although her focus was squarely on the high vaulted ceiling.
Clearing his throat as he stood beside her brought red-rimmed eyes to meet his own and he felt better yet that he had taken the opportunity to contact his father before meeting with her. At least this way he could assure her of her continued safety.
He was wary of discussing the contents Lucius' letter with Archie present, but as it was it seemed the girl wasn't going anywhere. He retrieved the parchment from the pocket of his robes and gave it to Katrina. The choice to discuss its contents in front of their current audience was hers to make.
"You had no right."
The words were aimed at him with a cruel sneer and Draco was taken aback.
"Excuse me?"
Her legs swung to the floor and suddenly she was glowering up at him. He could see the beginning of her anger take tangible form and he couldn't be more confused.
"I said, you had no right," she said, punctuating her statement with a sharp poke to his chest. He swatted her hand away crowding into her space, bringing his face much closer to hers. He could practically taste the magic rolling off of her
"In case, you've forgotten Katrina, you are my fiance, and that means I will do what is best for you."
She scoffed loudly, waving the parchment in front of his face.
"You think I care about how I'm considered in fucking Pureblood circles? Do you think I care if Lucius Malfoy wants to rescind his offer? I could not give less of a fuck if I was regarded as a squib!"
He was quickly losing his patience, he couldn't tell if she was being intentionally obtuse or if she was trying to provoke him to anger but the result was all the same. The rage he felt came rushing to the surface.
"I'm trying to protect you, you infuriating woman!" he bellowed.
The silence that followed was loaded. There was scarcely a scrap of white left in her eyes and Draco belatedly realized that this approach would not get the point across that he needed to convey. She needed to understand.
He took a step back and ran a shaky hand through his hair, doing his best to affect a level tone despite the anger coursing through his body.
"Katrina, if we don't get married now before your disownment is made official there's nothing any of us can do to stop your mother from using it to corner you into an even worse proposition."
He saw the precise moment that the words registered in her mind. It was like watching someone take a bludge to the gut. She deflated immediately, the black of her eyes receding to leave the fear and apprehension shining in her eyes.
"This isn't what I wanted. This isn't how I wanted this to happen," her voice sounded small and scared, and he closed the distance between them to hold her tightly in his arms, pressing a kiss to her forehead. No thought given to the equally worried people beside them.
"I know."
