Dragon vs. Maiden IX
A/N- So a decision has been made regarding this story. It's been fun to write it and I'm going to continue it till it feels like a natural ending. I had a sudden burst of inspiration over the holidays and my birthday which will result in something I think most of you, the readers... will love. So, here's to a lot more rugged military/dragon shifter Draco goodness and intrepid charm from Hermione. We're also going to be having a new character, one mentioned in an earlier chapter only briefly make his debut in a big way! He shall be a part of the story; a rival for Hermione's love?! (WHO KNOWS)
Cheers xx
P.S- I don't want to spoil it for anyone but for those of you wondering this story is a HEA so chill your lil hearts and enjoy everything to come.
P.P.S- This story is not and will not be abandoned, pls be patient with updates, real life is kicking ya girl's ass. Thank you for taking the time out to read.
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...
Previously...
The man was still in love with a ghost.
...
Half-wit, Draco swore pacing up and down the kitchen. Dobby had long since retired to Scorpius's room, it was still early morning. He had only left Hermione's bed this past hour. Of all the foolish things he had done in his life, this by far took the cake.
What an exit... he thought with a sigh, falling down into a chair by the dying embers of the fire. Fuck, she had still been flushed with the force of her orgasm when he left... leaving that confused look in her doe brown eyes. The soft pink flush had crowned the tops of her cheeks and the tops of her breasts... he couldn't help but think once again. Ashamed of his weakness he dropped his head into his hands.
Why this woman? Why now?
No but then just as he thought he was finally free, he'd remember the flash of cornflower blue eyes, golden hair that would fall through his fingers like sifted golden threads.
He had to apologize to the girl... he seemed to be doing that an awful lot for someone he claimed he had no attachment to.
An awful thought began to cross his mind; his merchant fleets, moored in an inlet by the cove of the castle. He could leave, take his son, his household... leave her behind all of what was left in the castle and some gold. Maybe... maybe he could return to her, once he was free.
No! He dashed the idea aside before it was even complete, he didn't know what it was that was between them but leaving her to fend for herself was out of the question.
He wasn't worried about her being able to make her way, she had ingenuity enough however the thought of what a man could do to a single woman who he saw as weak turned his blood into ice. No... leaving her was out of the question. The memory of the night before was still vivid in his mind.
He glared at the last dregs of the fire, damn and blast! He had not returned here to Glenmorgan to acquire another woman...yet somehow one had fallen into his lap... one that he admittedly was unwilling to let go.
He needed to check on his son he thought with a tired sigh, wiping his no doubt extremely haggard face.
...
Hermione had been struggling to fall asleep. She had tossed and turned in bed for what seemed like eternity.
However, day was breaking, and she needed something to keep her hands and her mind busy. The daylight was unwelcome, during the night she had remained in her warm bed with an equally warm man... now in the daylight the bed looked rumpled and the man's last expression decidedly regretful.
She washed carefully at the sink and mirror propped up against the wall, coming to a decision. If ... after a discussion with Draco, they couldn't come to some sort of agreement as to how they were to behave around each other... she would leave. She would not sneak out like a thief at night, she thought with a blush... like last time.
No, she would be the adult, they would talk, with logic and reason and then she would come up with an independent decision of her own.
All this was rather dreary she thought with a sigh tugging a brilliant emerald green gown over her chemise and stockings. Perhaps if the latch to the secret door was the same as before she'd go visit Draco's son.
There was nothing better for the soul than the smile of a baby and she assured herself, it'd just be a quick peek. Aye no more than a few seconds.
The latch was indeed the same, she tugged on her boots and stepped outside the secret opening.
As she was walking to the opposite end of the dilapidated castle to where Draco's son's nursery was, she ran her hands against the walls, frowning at how the char still stuck to her skin... thick and black. How awful must have been for Draco, even to this day... despite nature taking over the ruin the evidence of violence still steeped the castle in eerie darkness.
So malevolent... she thought with a shudder, was Draco in the castle when the MacNott clan's warriors set the keep on fire? Was he with his parents?
Even though they had been so intimate, she still knew very little about him. She wondered how he had ended up as a privateer, after all most Scots that she knew... herself included hated the English. To fight with redcoats was appalling to her. But now when she saw what was left of his childhood home and knew that people she knew... well their parents and grandparents anyway... one from them had betrayed this family, killed a teen's parents, left him to fend for himself with enemies all around... she knew now why he kept himself in such ridged control, his icy disdain for this land and it's people.
Aye, she'd hate them too... viciously, if they had had her mama and papa murdered. After all, for Draco they hadn't been Laird and Lady MacFoy but mother and father.
Her train of thought was interrupted when she came upon a familiar corridor leading to a tower room. She grabbed her long skirts and darted up, past the debris and opened the door.
She had been right, and she was rewarded with the angelic view of the little boy at propped up in his crib with his cat beside him and his chubby little hands stuffed with apple slices.
Dobby, without his Glamour jumped from his post reading the newspaper besides the crib and began to stammer.
"Oh, stop it." Hermione hushed him breezing in, "This..." she said gesturing to his unfortunate pair of breeches and shirt, "Is the least strange thing I've seen in the last few days."
The elf sighed and sat back down, rubbing the bridge of his rather large nose.
"Whatever are you doing out of yer room miss?" he frowned, "Master won't be pleased."
"Oh, I'm sure he'll be absolutely fine." She told the elf with the surety of a woman who knew she was owed an apology.
"His father really should have taken a birch to that boy." said Dobby, suspicious of her tone.
"What in the world are you reading?" Hermione asked curiously, leaning over the elf.
"Daily Prophet." he muttered. "It's not for your kind."
"My kind?"
"Non-magical folk."
"How interesting! Let me have a wee peak!" she begged. She reached over and took Scorpius out of his crib, the sweet child didn't seem to mind her holding him in her lap.
"Such curiosity, in a woman." said the elf in the voice that made Hermione think he didn't entirely approve.
"Oh lord..." she whispered in wonder, "The pictures move."
One small, apple smeared hand grabbed the paper and squished happily.
As Hermione asked Dobby all sorts of questions, none of the occupants in the room noticed a tall figure leaning against the doorway.
...
She looked perfect with his son on her lap, thought Draco savagely. Like a young mother with her child, except his son's real mother was dead.
The hush from their direction let him know that they had noticed his presence. He nodded to Dobby, gesturing with his head towards the door. It was time for the elf to leave.
Dobby threw a weak attempt at a smile Hermione's way before hot footing it out of the nursery with his paper in tow.
"My Lord..." Hermione murmured, her eyes downcast and her mouth puckered.
He winced looking at the soft purple smudges beneath her normally bright eyes, clearly, he hadn't been the only one kept up by his untimely actions in her bedroom last night.
He marched over stiffly, sinking down in the chair Dobby had abandoned. He watched her broodingly as she lightly tickled his son's belly.
"So..." she whispered, looking him in the eye, "Have you decided what to do with me yet? I half expected to wake up to find myself all alone in this castle."
Draco would never let her know how close to the truth she was.
"I cannot leave you alone now, I have compromised your reputation thoroughly." he growled, "Other than marriage, I cannot think of a single way to keep you safe and with me and I am not ready to get married again... maybe never."
"Or..." she said, "Since we are so far apart in our classes, peasant and aristocrat no one would care what you do to me. You needn't worry about my reputation, My Lord." Lord she sounded stiff... she was hurt... how dare he imply she was trying to trap him into marriage. Reminding her just how far apart they really were.
"Miss. Granger." Draco replied gravely, reaching out to catch one small hand within his own, "Have no doubt, while you may not need me to worry... I worry all the same."
Hermione snatched her hand away, disconcerted by his words. She instead looked down at the golden head of the child in her lap... when seemingly out of nowhere a brilliant notion struck her.
"My Lord..." she looked shrewdly, "What would you say to making another deal with me."
Draco instantly looked wary as he considered her suddenly gleaming eyes.
"And what would that deal be, my dear." He drawled, leaning backwards. Studying her out of his one good eye, the eyebrow above his patch arching questioningly.
"The differences in our classes reminded me..."
He interrupted her firmly, "I hope you're aware Hermione that I believe all this class nonsense is tosh. I've met soldier's rescued from the gutters of London more valiant, honourable and brave than any aristocrat I've encountered thus far in my life."
"You must stop interrupting me, My Lord." she replied impatiently.
"And I told you to stop calling me that." He reminded her gently.
"Listen to me, Draco." She insisted, leaning forward until she was close enough for him to smell her sweet, clean scent, "I have a way for both of us to get what we want; you feel responsible for my reputation and I want to see the world. Why don't you take me on as Scorpius's nanny?"
"You to be his nanny?"
"Why yes, that way I can travel with you wherever you decide to take him, and you can keep an eye on me and as you well know 'tis a common enough job for the few well-read women of my station."
"Do you know what you're asking for, little one, forget about your blasted 'station'?" he said gently, "This means no more spontaneous kisses, no more head massages... if I were to take you on one of my vessels, I'll have to keep you safe from my men. Not that I don't trust each one of them with my life but having a woman as young and lovely as you on board will undoubtedly result in me crackling some heads."
"No more kissing." she agreed, swallowing her bitter disappointment. It was clear to her that what he felt for her was simply duty...his disappointment in their intimacy couldn't have been clearer last night. "And..." she said bravely, "Once I feel suitably compensated for the loss of my reputation, My Lord. I shall leave you and your son in peace."
It was for the best she assured herself, taking this step. She had to protect herself.
She turned her face away from his and played with little Scorpius's hair... no matter, perhaps getting to see the world would be suitable compensation for his stalwart rejection.
"So, My Lord... do we have a deal?" she asked in falsely bright voice, slapping a smile on her face and extending her hand as she had seen so many gentlemen do.
Draco simply gazed meditatively at her hand before clasping it tight within his own. That startled her since she had expected him to shake it.
"I feel like this action of yours has a hidden meaning to it." He murmured, "Yet I see no other better idea... so for now... we are agreed, my dear. But we shall return to this discussion again."
"I don't see what else is there to discuss..."
"Yes, after all I'm sure you have it all worked out in your clever little brain don't you, treasure. No matter... today is not the day to fix your crooked ideas for if you are to be my son's nanny then I see no reason to continue to linger in this godforsaken castle."
"We're leaving?!"
"Indeed, madam and I suggest you begin your new job by packing your new charge's clothing." And with those final words and a final brooding look Draco left Hermione in the nursery.
She felt like she had just left the battlefield... and exalted her in victory... well sort off.
She wouldn't be missing his kisses... much.
TBC