Story Notes
Hi everyone…. I'm holding onto a tiny sliver of hope that somewhere on the planet it's still Saturday and I'm not a day late posting this…. Sorry! Yesterday turned kind of manic, then my ADHD brain kicked in and an early night was called for! Anyway today is a much better day, and after that slight over-share…. Here we are!
Please take note….. There is a LOT of smut at the start of this chapter….! (and it's proper, full on, blushing when I read it back kind of smut too. This one is def NSFW!) Then, in case anyone was wondering what's happening about those sneaky note writers…. Well that all steps up a notch in this installment too.
Thank you as always to champagneandliterature for the alpha/beta work and for being the best cheerleader ever.
See you all in two weeks! XXxx
Cupid's Arrows
Chapter 22 - Surely he wouldn't do that?
The bed in the room that Remus and Sirius had set up for the three of them to sleep in was enormous. Hermione actually had to jump slightly to perch her bottom on the edge of the mattress. "Want a lift?" Draco asked, not bothering to hide his amusement.
Hermione laughed as she shook her head. "We're not all as tall as you are. Besides, I managed just fine, thank you," she replied with as much dignity as she could muster.
"That you did," Draco smirked, crossed to the window, started to close the heavy curtains, then paused. "I still find it strange that this house is invisible to most people from the square, yet we're in here, and we can see everything outside just fine."
"Yep," Hermione agreed, nestling her hands into the soft, downy bedding. "We've all been let into the Fidelius charm so we can see the house from the outside. Not that it matters these days, but it used to. We used to sit downstairs in the lounge, staring out of the window, watching for Death Eaters when we were hiding out here during the war. There was always a guard outside, watching and waiting in case we slipped up or missed the step when we apparated in or out."
"I know." Draco sighed and rubbed a hand over his face looking regretful. "I was often one of those guards. I've spent longer than I'd care to admit hanging around this square under a stupid mask. Believe me, none of us could see this house in the slightest. I had come here as a child a few times before Walburga died, and even then, I couldn't see it. The charm works perfectly. I saw you and the others apparate in and out a few times, though. So did my father and a couple of the other supposed guards. You weren't always as careful as you thought you were." Hermione's eyes widened as Draco resolutely tugged the curtain shut. "I honestly never imagined I'd end up inside here with you, certainly not sleeping beside you in the guest bedroom!"
Draco pulled his jumper over his head as he stepped towards her. The move left him in just a t-shirt, and his Dark Mark stood out eerily against his pale skin in the dim candlelight. Hermione's brain finally caught up with his words as she watched the mark appear to shimmer and move. If Draco, Lucius, and some of the others had seen them apparate during the war, then they'd been in the perfect position to stun and capture them, yet none of them had ever even tried. "What?" Draco asked gently, following her eyes and flinching slightly but resolutely refusing to hide his arm away.
"Nothing." Hermione pulled her top over her head. She refused to ask for more details because she didn't want to know. That part of her life was now in the past, and she didn't want to venture back into painful memories just now. "Well, maybe it is a little something," she countered, seeing Draco's confusion. "I've decided it's time to stop hiding my arm scars away, and seeing your Dark Mark just reminded me of that decision." She tried to keep her voice light, but Draco seemed to understand the gravity her words held instinctively.
He nodded and stepped closer to her. She opened her knees to let him in, then wrapped her arms around him, laying her cheek against his chest and listening to his steady, soothing heartbeat. "I love you," he whispered softly, "and I'm proud of you for deciding to do that. It sounds easier than it is sometimes, though, that's all I'll say. Be gentle on yourself."
She nodded. "Thank you. I'll try to be. I love you too."
"Are you still feeling poorly?" Draco asked, stroking her hair and dropping a kiss onto the top of her head. She shook her head. Ironically, she felt better now than she had all day. "Good," he smiled, "because we've got plans for you tonight."
"Oh?" Hermione tipped her head back and giggled at his devilish smirk.
"Oh, yes," he confirmed. "If Theo ever gets his arse up here, that is. I knew we shouldn't have left him downstairs with Sirius. I swear he'd stay up all night and sleep all day given the chance."
Hermione laughed. "I think Sirius is similar, according to Remus, so we could potentially be waiting a while. Shall we go get him?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Send your otter down, love, tell him we need him up here, say something dirty and I bet he'll be up before we can blink!" Draco handed her his wand then crossed to the bathroom with a smile. "Ask him to bring your wand up too, you left it on the table. I meant to grab it, then I forgot." Hermione stared down at Draco's wand with a slight frown and rather apprehensively weighed up it's balance in her hand. Summoning a happy memory she cast her patronus into the bedroom almost as easily as usual, spoke to it quietly, then sent it away with a whoosh.
"Did you tell him we were both naked and tied to the bed?" Draco asked, slurring his words through a mouthful of toothpaste.
"Not quite," she laughed, tensing her thighs as a shiver of interest made her whole body quiver, "I just told him we were going to bed and asked him to bring my wand up."
Draco frowned, turning away to spit into the sink. "That doesn't sound quite as exciting."
"But, apparently, it's just as effective," Hermione grinned in triumph as Theo apparated directly into the room.
"You called?" he grinned as he ran a hand through his disheveled hair. Hermione felt her pulse quicken in response. He looked absolutely gorgeous, as always.
"Yes," she said boldly. "I did. Apparently, you and Draco have plans."
"Do we?" Theo blinked in surprise, then smiled as she hopped down from the bed to kiss him brazenly. "Oh. Those plans." His eyes visibly darkened at her slow nod. He brushed his lips over hers then deepened the kiss, pulling her in and tangling his fingers into her hair. "Sorry," he murmured, biting her bottom lip gently, "I should probably brush my teeth too. We've been drinking wine, and-" she cut him off with another kiss. She knew what he'd been up to. She could taste the Merlot and the smoke on him, but she didn't care. She just pressed herself wantonly against him as desire flared like an inferno inside her.
"Some people find," Theo said when he finally pulled back, leaving her panting and full of barely restrained desire, "that their bodies are more aroused and sensitive following a hangover."
"Do they?" she asked, grinning as she happily played along.
"Mhmm. They do." Theo's smirk grew even more wicked as Draco emerged from the bathroom. "And since I suspect that you might be one of them, here's what's going to happen. I'm going to vanish your clothes wandlessly," he snapped his fingers and Hermione whimpered as her clothes magically disappeared, "just like that. Then because I know you like power shows and mind magic, I'm going to wandlessly levitate you onto the bedand tell Draco to get you off while I use the bathroom. And if you do turn out to be one of those people who feel extra sensitive following a hangover, then you'll come harder than you ever have. In fact," he grinned wickedly as she mewled quietly in response to his words, "tonight, I want to see if you can squirt all over Draco's hand."
With a gasp followed by a squeal, Hermione found herself laying flat on her back, naked, in the middle of the enormous bed. Draco smirked as he dropped the rest of his own clothes to the floor and hopped up beside her. "Hi," he said, as she turned to look at him, "how does all that sound?"
"Perfect," she breathed, already shivering with anticipation.
"Have you ever squirted before?" She shook her head, wondering if such a thing was even truly possible and resolving to ask Ginny or Pansy about it the next day. "Let's see what we can do then, shall we?"At her wanton moan of encouragement, Draco kissed her gently then picked up the pace until he was plundering her mouth with his tongue. He moved across the bed to straddle her, and she pulled him closer, feeling her skin heat instantly as it came into contact with his. Draco stroked his hand down her side. She quivered as he cupped her breasts, wriggling his way down the bed, peppering kisses across her chest, and then sucking one of her already throbbing nipples into his mouth.
Hermione sighed with pleasure and turned her head to see Theo watching them from the bathroom doorway. His toothbrush paused as she caught his eye, and an idea popped into her mind. She gathered her thoughts into as strong a statement as she could, stared deeply into his blue eyes, then concentrated on pushing the image forcefully into his mind. "I want to watch you two together."
Theo staggered slightly. Hermione's surprised giggle morphed into a moan as Draco also jumped and nipped her nipple significantly harder than usual with his teeth. Theo nodded, then backed into the bathroom, apparently remembering he was halfway through brushing his teeth. "Do you, now?" Draco drawled, his voice laced with amusement.
"Umm, yes." She could feel her cheeks heating. Maybe she had overdone things a little. "You heard that too?"
Draco chuckled. "Darling, I think Sirius and Remus probably heard that downstairs. I don't normally hear other people's thoughts unless I consciously tune in to them, but you just projected that one quite loudly!"
"Oh!" she giggled. "I didn't know how strongly I had to- ooooh- do- ahhhh- it!"
"Normal thinking volume will do it for Theo," Draco said, resuming his leisurely ministrations, "he hears everything unless he's consciously blocking it out. I think an hour in his head would feel rather overwhelming."
"Tell us what you want to see then, sweetheart," Theo said, unzipping his hoodie as he joined them on the bed.
"Just you- ah- and Draco- mmm- togeth- ohhh, amnnmmph!" she abandoned speech altogether as Draco's hand dipped lower. He stroked his thumb over her clit, parted her already slick folds, and slid a finger smoothly inside.
"Since you seem to be rendered speechless at the moment, shall I hazard a guess?" Theo asked, and she nodded helplessly. Her orgasm was building fast. The bundle of nerves Draco was stroking was causing a pulsing heat to build inside her to almost painful levels. She whimpered, tensing as her climax built, but just as she was about to come, Draco stilled his hand. She bucked against his fingers, but he just watched her closely as Theo trailed his hand over her nipples.
"Have you ever watched two men fuck before?" Theo asked. She shook her head, still writhing underneath Draco, who stubbornly refused to move. "But you want to?" Theo continued. Her eyes rolled back at the mere thought, and she jolted again as Draco brushed his thumb against her now overly sensitive clit.
"What? Yes!"
"Good girl. Draco likes it best when I take him from behind. We're going to do it over the top of you tonight. That way you can kiss him and swallow his moans to keep him quiet. You can take his cock in your hand while I fuck him, you can stroke him if you like, or you can line him up and slide him inside your hot, dripping-"
Hermione cut him off with a squeal. As Theo had begun to speak, Draco had resumed the steady pumping of his fingers. Perfectly timed with Theo's words, Draco pressed down onto her G spot and flicked his thumb over her clit, causing her to buck up against him. "Shhh," Theo moved his hand to cover her mouth, and the feeling excited her even further. She bit her lip, gasping for breath around his fingers. "Remember your safeword," Theo breathed, then moved his hand and closed it gently around her throat. Two more strokes from Draco's fingers, and she detonated under his touch. Theo's hand squeezed gently, then more threateningly, and the strength of her climax instantly doubled.
As she calmed, Draco withdrew his fingers and gazed down at her in wonder as Theo removed his hand from her neck. "What is it about that move?" Draco asked, switching his incredulous gaze across to Theo.
Theo just chuckled, "It's the vulnerability it makes you feel. It gets you every time too, doesn't it?" Draco nodded as Hermione slowly floated back down to earth. "Did she squirt?"
"Not that time, but I think she can. She felt like she was close. She just needs to let go a little more. Does it do anything for you?" Draco asked, stroking Hermione's hair away from her damp face and running his hand over her throat himself.
"Yeah. It makes me panic," Theo admitted as Hermione slowly regained her senses. "And try to punch Adrian Pucey in the face." Hermione giggled while Theo rolled his eyes, "which seemed a little unfair since he'd asked if he could try it beforehand and I'd said yes. That was the night we came to realize that I'm not the submissive type. Since he wasn't either, we called it a day lest we accidentally killed each other."
Draco laughed, and Hermione reached up to push a lock of Theo's dark hair out of his face. "You've submitted to me," Draco argued.
"Partially," Theo shrugged. "And you're the only person I've ever let go that far. I trust you. Both of you, it's just not the way I am. Anyway, neither of you seem to mind that too much.
"I don't mind it at all, in fact, you know I love it." Draco rolled over to stare at the ceiling. "What we have between us is perfect. I know you'll take care of me."
Theo's smile was slow, and his nod soft. "That I will. Come here, switch places, both of you."
Hermione gathered her now boneless body with some difficulty and let Draco climb over the top of her. She wanted to ask more. Theo had hinted several times that there was a reason he didn't like to be held down or tied up, but now didn't seem like the best time to ask him about it. Instead, she settled herself against the plush headboard and inhaled sharply as she watched him kiss Draco.
They looked like they'd been together as a couple for years, which she supposed, in a way they had. They responded to each other perfectly, each knowing the other's responses instinctively. Theo led, and Draco followed. It was beautiful to watch.
Hermione's breathing quickened as the kisses between the two men became heated. Draco brushed his lips down Theo's neck, finding the sensitive spot just under his earlobe and nipping to make him throw his head back and moan. In return, Theo dropped his hand, running it down Draco's side, all the way to his hip, then brushed the back of his fingers along the length of his straining cock.
Theo kissed his way along Draco's body, pausing to tongue both of his nipples, making him thrash his head from side to side on the pillow. Theo continued his slow, lazy journey until he reached Draco's belly button. He paused to caress it with his fingers, then took both of Draco's hands in his, stretched his arms up above his head, and stuck them in place on the pillow with a charm.
Draco groaned, tugging in vain against the invisible restraints. He lifted his hips, inviting Theo in, but Theo just swatted his thigh and moved back up to his nipples instead. "Patience, sweetheart," Theo said, slowly laving kisses all the way back down. This time Draco held still, although Hermione could see the effort that cost him. Theo rewarded him with a kiss to each of his thighs, then sucked his hard length smoothly into his mouth. Hermione locked eyes with Theo as he pulled back, licked his lips, and sank all the way down until his nose was buried in Draco's soft, blonde curls. Hermione's eyes widened. She still had no idea how he could physically do that. He stayed still with his cheeks hollowed for an impossibly long time, Draco's eyes rolled back in his head before Theo pulled off, gasped a breath, then repeated the move several more times.
Hermione whimpered as Theo finally pulled back slowly and let Draco spring gently free. Theo whispered a charm to release Draco's hands, and Draco immediately wrapped his arms around him, pulling him in closer. "Turn over," Theo whispered, and Draco flipped over onto his front. "You alright?" Hermione jumped a little, startled, realizing that Theo was speaking to her. She nodded as he flipped her knees open with his hands. "You want to watch or join in?"
Theo grinned as she stared at him wordlessly. He took her hand and guided it down to her own wet heat. "Show us how you get yourself off then," he said, lifting a brow and stroking a hand over Draco's back. "Let me see those pretty fingers of yours disappear into your hot, tight little cunt." Theo guided Draco into the position he wanted, then caressed the smooth skin of his bottom with his hand. He muttered a cleaning and lubrication spell, then parted Draco's cheeks and stroked a finger gently across his entrance.
At Theo's touch, Draco tensed then pushed back onto Theo's hand, looking for more contact. Theo repeated the move, and Hermione shamelessly moved along the headboard to get a better view. She saw the tension in Draco's thighs, the anticipation on his face, then his gasp of relief as Theo's finger finally breached his tight ring of muscle. Theo paused for a moment, closing his eyes and waiting for Draco to adjust before sliding his finger deeper inside. Draco mumbled something incoherent, and Theo moaned in response as he started to gently slide his finger in and out. Draco reached out for Hermione, tugged her close to him, and kissed her heatedly.
When Draco released her, she moved back to watch once again. She gasped as Theo added a second finger to the first, twisting and moving them slowly for a few long moments before carefully adding one more. By now, Draco was panting. He'd dropped his head into the pillow and was rocking back and forth, impaling then releasing himself on Theo's fingers over and over again. "Hold still," Theo whispered, then withdrew his hand completely. He reached around, grasped and then pumped Draco's cock a few times then moved his attention back to Hermione. "Ask him if he's ready for me to fuck him?" Theo commanded, vanishing his own clothes, as Draco almost collapsed onto the bed hearing Hermione repeat the question word for word.
"Yes," Draco gasped, sounding pained as Theo composed himself then lined himself up.
"Relax then, darling," Theo stroked him softly then pressed the tip of his cock into position. He entered Draco slowly, each shallow thrust much more gentle and measured than when he did the same thing to Hermione. She held her breath as she watched him close his eyes and sink all the way inside. Draco cried out as Theo's final gentle nudge buried him to the hilt. "You okay?" he asked, sounding strained.
Draco nodded breathlessly as Theo started to move. "You?" Draco asked, and Theo nodded.
"Of course I am. It's you isn't it?" he gasped. "I fucking love you, Draco."
Draco smiled. "I… love… you too!" he gasped, taking hold of Hermione's arm and tugging her towards them both.
She ended up underneath Draco, looking up into his glazed over eyes as Theo increased both the weight and the speed of his thrusts. "Gods, Draco, so tight, so good," Theo's eyes were closed as he lost himself completely in Draco. "I'm not gonna last- been too long, I'm gonna- I can't." Draco kissed Hermione frantically, and she felt her own climax building at the sight and feel of what was going on around her.
Theo reached around and guided her hand onto Draco's cock, it was rock hard, and Theo's vigorous thrusting caused it to pump in and out of her hand. "Fuck her, Draco," he whispered, slowing his pace and looking pained, "I've always wanted to try this."
Carefully, almost desperately, Hermione positioned herself, and Draco lined himself up while Theo paused until she nodded. "Now."
One thrust from Theo buried Draco all the way inside her. Draco moaned, kissing her as if he was trying to devour her. Theo snapped his hips, pushing Draco impossibly deep into her and she cried out as she lifted her hips to meet him. "Come. Hermione. Now!" Theo demanded, and she felt Draco stiffen inside her
"Fuck!" Draco gasped, burying his face into her neck as he thrusted erratically into her, "mmmm!" Theo followed him a split second later, and as he pushed Draco forwards, Hermione's own climax tore through her, washing over her in pulses of white hot, molten heat. It was the most intense orgasm she had ever experienced. She closed her eyes and stars burst behind the dark of her eyelids. Her whole body was on fire. She was surrounded, trapped, and completely unable to move.
Theo continued to thrust gently, and every move he made traveled through Draco and into her, pushing her orgasm to even greater heights. When Theo stilled, he dropped lifelessly down onto Draco who braced himself to avoid completely crushing Hermione beneath him. "Oh. My. Gods!" Draco lifted his head then let out a long satisfied breath. "Sweet Merlin, that was amazing. Are you alright under there?" he asked, apparently realising that despite his efforts, both he and Theo had semi collapsed on top of her.
"Can't breathe," she gasped and Draco lifted himself up, patting Theo on the arm.
"You alright, babes?" he asked.
"Yep. Just a minute, let me," Theo pulled a face as extracted himself from Draco then collapsed down onto the bed, still breathing hard.
"Sorry," Draco grinned sheepishly as he in turn released himself from Hermione, "you really just wanted to watch, didn't you?"
Hermione laughed as her body finally recovered from her monumental climax. "I think I preferred it this way."
"I've always wanted to try that," Theo shook his head in wonder. "And it was truly amazing. As sex with you two always is."
"Same," Draco kissed Theo on the nose, turned over then did the same to Hermione. "Just out of interest, could we try that with you in the middle sometime? No pressure if you're not comfortable with it, though?"
Theo took a long time to answer. He stared up at the ceiling then down at the bedding. "Maybe," he said eventually and Draco nodded, reaching out across Hermione to take his hand. Hermione couldn't help wondering if there was something she was still missing, but her sated and fuzzy brian was too sleepy to ask any questions at that moment.
"Cool," Draco mumbled, settling himself down comfortably. "Now, go to sleep both of you. I've got to check on the wolfsbane in two hours!"
The next morning Hermione kissed Sirius and Remus goodbye, then followed Theo and Draco back through the floo into the deserted eighth year common room. Checking her watch, she rolled her eyes then hurried into the Gryffindor girl's dorms. She was almost late already. She just about had time to grab her scattered books and quills, then she'd have to run if she wanted to make it to Charms on time.
She yanked her rarely used bed hangings back and stopped short, frowning in confusion at the sight in front of her. Laid out across her bed were several black and white magical photographs. She picked up the first picture and gasped as the bottom abruptly fell out of her stomach. The whole world seemed to come to a screeching, grinding halt as she stared in abject horror at the picture in her hands. "No!" she cried, gasping for air and sinking blindly down onto the bed to look frantically through the other photographs, "no way! He wouldn't!"
A shocked sob rose painfully in her throat as she stared again at the moving photograph in her hand. It showed Theo holding a pretty blond girl in his arms, looking deeply into her eyes, and then leaning in to kiss her passionately. The other photographs all showed similar scenes. Theo and the mystery girl laughing together, holding hands and playing about in the autumn leaves the same way Hermione herself had done with Theo and Draco way back when the game had first started, and they had walked into Hogsmeade together. The backdrop to the shots appeared to be the footpath into Hogsmeade. One of the photographs showed the 'Welcome to Hogsmeade' sign illuminated with Christmas fairy lights, and the Shrieking Shack was just about visible in the distance.
Tears started to fall unchecked down Hermione's face, and her hands shook uncontrollably as she flicked through the pictures. She picked up a previously unseen handwritten note and frowned at the untidy scrawling letters. 'Just thought you should know what he's really like.' From Hermione's memory, the writing on this piece of parchment was identical to that on the previous notes.
Hermione heard the bell ring for the start of class, but she didn't care. She couldn't care. She stared, her whole body shaking with sobs, feeling completely and utterly betrayed. She found it difficult to breathe. Her throat was constricted and her chest felt as though it was filled with a lead weight. She wanted to scream, to rage, and to lash out. She wanted to run far, far away from these devastating pictures, but most of all, she wanted access to the time turner she'd used in her third year. She'd keep flipping it over and over if it meant never having to see these heartbreaking photographs again.
How was it possible, she wondered, that she had fallen so totally in love with someone that she'd been with for such a short amount of time? It wasn't just Theo though. She knew that if Draco was the one in the pictures she would have felt exactly the same. She was incredulous. Had everything Theo ever told her been a lie? She didn't want to believe it. She wouldn't believe it. Surely, there had to be some kind of mistake. Theo wouldn't do this to her and Draco. Would he?
A surge of hope rushed through her as her desperate brain clutched wildly at straws. Was it possible that these were old pictures, taken this time last year? The Christmas lights and the late autumn weather would have been the same, after all. But, as she stared, even that vague glimmer of hope was dashed. One of the photos clearly showed Theo's snake tattoo, and he'd already told her that he'd had that done in Italy, back in the spring of this current year.
No. The photos had clearly been taken very recently.
The longer Hermione stared at the pictures, the worse she felt. Her mind was replaying what felt like her, Draco, and Theo's entire relationship. She remembered every little detail, the way the light glinted on Theo's untidy hair, the way he smiled and laughed, the way he looked so deeply into her eyes that it felt as if he was seeing her soul. Then she thought of the way he looked at Draco and the easy familiarity they both shared. They were so comfortable together. She'd witnessed the extent of that just last night. There was more than familiarity between the two of them. There was love. The same love that Theo professed to feel for her, and yet, here she was, looking at irrefutable proof that that was all a lie.
But was it irrefutable proof though?
Something, apart from the obvious, was starting to feel wrong. As the first waves of shock and utter disbelief started to clear, Hermione's brain clicked up a gear. She might not have been with Theo for that long, but she felt she knew him pretty well. Theo was many things, but in her opinion, he wasn't a liar, nor was he a cheat.
Hermione took a deep, shaky breath and wiped her eyes as reason and logic started to creep back in. Her brain spun. The more she thought about it, the more her ability to date and place the pictures so easily ate away at her. It was too easy. The pictures seemed too specifically revealing. Why would Theo have bare arms in Hogsmeade in December? Was it possible that someone was trying to deliberately date the photos by using his tattoos and the fairy lights?
Two possibilities spun around in her mind, the first, most obvious one being that Theo really was a liar, but despite the apparent evidence in her hand, that idea just felt wrong, and two, that it wasn't really him in the pictures.
Hermione's eyes widened as she remembered just how easy it was to impersonate somebody else in the magical world. Barty Crouch had pulled the feat off undetected for almost an entire school year. It wasn't completely impossible that somebody was using Polyjuice Potion here as well. She gasped as her mind spun with possibilities. Her eyes widened and she dropped the photo as an uncomfortable memory hit her like a tonne of bricks. Daphne and Theo, giggling as they'd emerged from the Herbology greenhouses a few weeks ago. Theo's hair had been full of Devil's Snare leaves and Daphne had been pulling them out. "Polyjuice," Hermione breathed. "Bloody Polyjuice Potion! But why?"
Determined to prove a theory that had been building in her mind for weeks, she rifled through her bedside drawers and pulled out the older notes. The writing on each sheet of parchment matched perfectly. Searching around further in the drawer, she found the other things she was looking for. Each year every Hogwarts house had a whole house photograph taken, and rather helpfully, this year's ones had only recently come out. Hermione picked all four pictures out of her drawer, brushed aside the Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff photos, and focused instead on the Slytherin one.
Finally, she found what she was looking for. She skimmed past their own year group, past Draco, Theo, Blaise, Pansy, and the others, and moved on down to the younger year groups. "Gotcha," she whispered, giving a huge sigh of relief. Standing in the middle of one row was the unidentified blonde girl who Theo had apparently been holding so reverently in his arms. "Hannah Fawley," Hermione read her name then wrinkled her nose as she scanned the line of smiling students. Standing next to Hannah was none other than Astoria Greengrass.
Hermione wiped her final tears away and stared furiously around her bed space. "Dobby! Kreacher!" she called, and two loud cracks announced the arrival of the tiny house elves, both of whom fell over each other in an attempt to answer her first. "You called Miss?" Dobby squeaked as both he and Kreacher bowed deeply.
"I did. Thank you for coming. Please," she said uncomfortably, "there's no need to bow, you know me. Did you both manage to do as I asked? Have you been tailing the Greengrass sisters and Tracy Davis?"
"Yes, Mistress Hermione!" Dobby squeaked, but he was cut off by Kreacher's bullfrog croak.
"Yes. Kreacher has been doing just that. Kreacher has been following very discreetly and Kreacher has seen things. Kreacher has some very important news."
"So does Dobby, Miss Hermione!" Dobby dove in front of Kreacher and almost landed in Hermione's lap in his haste to tell his side of the story. "Dobby has also been spying on them and Dobby has news too!"
"Alright," Hermione nodded grimly. "Thank you both very much." she patted the bed beside her gently. "Please sit down then, both of you, and tell me everything you've found out."