IMPORTANT: This is the sequel to 'In the Snake's Jaw'. If you haven't read it, you should do it before reading with this story, or you won't understand some things.
With that said, welcome to 'In the Snake's Nest'.
We jump a year into the future. Let's see how our couple are doing, and what awaits them in their new life after Hogwarts. This is going to be a more mature and darker story, with worse problems for them.
As always, the Harry Potter universe and characters belong to J. K. Rowling, but this story is mine.
I want to dedicate it to Helen McRory (Narcissa Malfoy), who died in April... and also to Alan Rickman (Severus Snape), who we all miss very much. Thanks for the beautiful films you two gave us.
*Warning: this story contains sexual content and violence*
Chapter One
The Granger's house
Draco was sitting on a white sofa, one leg crossed over his knee and an open book on his lap. He was wearing a gray jumper with the Slytherin crest, reading quietly as one of his hands petted Crookshanks' belly. The cat was lying next to him and purring with his eyes closed.
The last rays of the evening came in through the windows, and from time to time the creaking of the wood burning in the stone fireplace could be heard in the room.
He glanced at the clock hanging on the wall, it was one minute to six in the afternoon. He refocused on the book and sighed.
Suddenly, the flames in the fireplace rose and changed colour, turning emerald green. Looking up, he saw that the figure of Hermione Granger coming through them. She took a couple of steps to a red carpet and dusted herself off her tunic.
Draco raised an eyebrow and stared at her, narrowing his eyes.
"Where is it?"
Hermione bit her lower lip, trying not to smile.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
He rolled his eyes and snorted, shaking his head as he shared a glance with Crookshanks.
"Your owner likes to play dumb, but you and I both know she's lying," he commented in a low voice, touching the cat's ears.
Hermione giggled softly and walked over to the sofa, leaning over and grabbing Draco by the collar of his jumper.
He didn't resist and their mouths met. Without leaving her lips, he insisted.
"Where's my wand, Granger?"
Her laugh ruffled his blond bangs, and Hermione straightened her back.
"Did you make dinner?" she asked, ignoring him.
"I need my wand for that and you know it. I hate when you hide it, I've been looking for it all day," Draco muttered, frowning.
"You should have used your day off to learn how to cook without magic, Draco. Try it at least once, maybe you like it," Hermione said, taking two steps back.
He left the book on the sofa and stood up, his grey eyes fixed on her. A deep growl sounded on his chest and his fists clenched.
"My wand, Granger."
"Now I'm Granger again?" Hermione asked, walking backwards and feeling her heart race at the dangerous look Draco was giving her.
"You also call me Malfoy when you get mad at me," was his reply. He took slow steps towards her, without blinking and with his gaze always on her face, as if he were a hunter stalking his prey.
Hermione took another step back and gasped as she hit the stone edge of the fireplace. Draco's eyes twinkled and he stepped forward, cornering her.
"Tell me where you've hidden it," he whispered, caressing the skin of Hermione's neck with his breath.
She flinched and a sigh escaped her lips.
"Are you ever going to try to do things like a Muggle? Aren't you curious about how they live without magic?" She answered, raising one of her hands up his chest until it reached his face, stroking his cheek.
Draco closed his eyes, leaning his head over Hermione's hand.
"It's stupid. Why should I complicate my life if I have magic that makes everything easier?" He asked, opening them again.
Hermione rolled her eyes and snorted.
"It wouldn't kill you to try, just once."
He moved closer to her and grabbed Hermione's curly hair with one of her hands, forcing her head back. He attacked her lips with fury, devouring her slowly and painfully. She sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck, twisting her head slightly and deepening the kiss.
Draco's teeth tortured her lower lip and then he left a small caress with his tongue on it, to calm it down. Hermione felt his other arm around her waist, pulling her closer against him until their bodies were completely glued together.
"Tell me," Draco whispered between her lips.
She gave up. With those kisses, her brain was not able to continue fighting.
"It's in Crookshanks's bed."
Draco opened his eyes and looked at his girlfriend's face. She was blushing and her breathing was altered.
"If you hide it again... I'll take you right here, against the fireplace," he warned her, a twisted smile on his face.
Hermione giggled and kissed him again, catching his lower lip between her teeth.
"That doesn't sound like a threat at all," she commented, pulling apart a few inches and lifting her eyebrows.
"You'll tell me when you're covered in soot," he said, releasing her.
Draco winked at her and walked away, climbing the stairs behind the sofa.
Hermione sighed and dropped herself into one of the armchairs. The living room of her parents' house was practically the same as when they lived there. The day Draco moved in with her, they decided to change the colour of some furniture and renew the lamps, but nothing else.
She had not removed any of the photographs of her parents, though her heart sank every time she saw them. Hermione liked being able to remember them, some afternoons she contemplated the pictures as she had a cup of tea, waiting for Draco to arrive from the Ministry. He used to leave work an hour later than her, and that gave Hermione time to sink into her thoughts and shed occasional tears thinking about her parents, and how much she missed them.
More than once, Draco had arrived earlier than expected and caught her red-eyed, but he never said anything to her. He knew very well what was wrong with Hermione and, no matter how much they talked about it, he wasn't going to make her feel better.
Hermione saw Draco coming back down the stairs, wand in hand. He walked into the kitchen and she got up, following him. She saw him levitating a pot and lighting the fire, while a knife sliced vegetables on the counter.
"You're useless, you can't do anything without your wand," she said, leaning on the door frame to watch him.
Draco raised an eyebrow in her direction and gave her one of those mischievous grins that Hermione loved so much.
"And you love my two wands," he murmured with a sneer.
Hermione rolled her eyes and he bit back a laugh.
"I knew you were going to answer something like that," she protested, shaking her head and crossing her arms over her chest.
He approached Hermione, still smiling, while the enchanted objects continued to prepare dinner.
"The magic is taking care of the food, so I can do this now," he mumbled, catching her in his arms.
Draco lifted her to a sitting position on the kitchen table and began to slowly run his hands up her legs, giving her goose bumps. Hermione lunged for his lips and they merged into a very intense kiss. Before she could realise it, Draco had shed her underwear and was unbuttoning her cardigan. Hermione wrapped her legs around his hip and gasped at the feel of him against her core.
He took off his own jumper in one motion and tossed Hermione's red cardigan over one of the chairs as she unbuttoned his blue shirt. The kitchen was soon filled with moans and whispers, she repeated his name like a mantra and he filled her neck with deep kisses. One of his hands was lost under Hermione's skirt, torturing her with the tip of his fingers as he moved inside her.
The table legs creaked and they both laughed softly, but they didn't stop. Once he felt Hermione squirming between his arms, Draco bit her lower lip hard and let himself go with her, panting.
He rested his forehead against hers and focused on slowing his breathing, not moving away from Hermione.
"Do you think there's a place in the house still untouched?" he asked, opening his eyes and searching for her gaze.
She giggled softly and shook her head, running her hands down his back.
"It seems that this table was the last place left, we have already profaned the whole house," Hermione murmured with a grin.
Draco returned her smile and pulled away from her just a little, holding her chin with one hand.
"If your parents knew what we're doing with their house… they'd kill us."
Hermione's entire body tensed and Draco cursed under his breath. He had spoken without thinking.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want to…"
"It's okay, don't worry," she said, taking his hand and squeezing it lovingly.
Hermione had to get used to talking about them, but it was quite painful.
Draco sighed and took his shirt, handing it to Hermione. She put it on as he pulled up his trousers and watched her buttoning the shirt with amused eyes.
"I love the way my clothes fit your body... you look so much better than me with them."
She snorted and walked over to the counter, where the food was waiting. Hermione grabbed the two plates and set them down once Draco had cleaned the table with a flick of his wand.
Once they sat, she held the collar of his shirt with her fingers and brought it to her nose, closing her eyes.
"Do you still feel the same when you smell my scent?"
Hermione blinked at the question and met Draco's mocking gaze. She nodded without saying anything and he picked up the fork.
"The same happens to me," he admitted in a low voice, biting his lower lip and making her laugh.
"Well, after a year living together you should have gotten used to it."
"Never, Hermione. You will always drive me crazy, you and your scent."
She smiled and reached out a hand that Draco was quick to grasp.
"My mother wants us to have dinner with them tomorrow."
Hermione winced but she kept eating.
"Don't make that face, they're getting kinder than ever and she's getting fond of you," Draco said, trying to contain his laughter.
"I always get the impression that your father is waiting for something to separate us. I don't like the way he looks at us."
Draco's face hardened.
"Ignore him, I don't give a shit what he thinks. And, if he ever dares to say something inadequate…"
"Easy, Draco. He's not going to say anything to me," Hermione murmured, squeezing his hand again.
Draco nodded and gulped down what was left of the water, waving his wand. The plates and glasses levitated to the sink and began to wash themselves.
Hermione wrinkled her nose and he smirked.
After getting up, they returned to the living room and sat on the sofa where Crookshanks was still standing. Hermione turned on the television and Draco lay down, his head on her lap. That box of Muggle pictures wasn't interesting at all, but he liked it because Hermione always stroked his hair when she was watching a film.
"You know… I ran into Harry today, and he invited us to come over to his place this weekend."
Draco's lips twisted.
"That bloody Potter…" he muttered, snorting.
"Your friends come here every week and I don't complain about it," Hermione added, glancing at him.
Draco gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, moving a hand up to his legs. Crookshanks had just snuggled between them.
"Okay," he agreed, digging his fingers into the cat's red fur.
"And to think that at first you called him a beast," Hermione commented, smiling as she watched him petting Crookshanks.
"He's still a beast, but we tolerate each other."
She shook her head, laughing. As much as he denied it, it was evident that Draco loved spending time with Crookshanks. The cat always followed him around, and he secretly gave him treats when he thought she was not looking.
Hermione continued stroking Draco's blond locks, tracing abstract shapes with her fingers until she began to hear his breathing. He had fallen asleep. She traced one of his eyebrows with her index finger, she loved that they were dark blond and not almost white as his hair.
She stared at him for a minute, wondering if it was a good idea or not. Finally, Hermione decided it was worth a try and she got up, trying not to wake him up. She placed a cushion under his head and took off her shoes to keep quiet.
Slowly and carefully, Hermione climbed the stairs silently in the direction of her father's old office. She and Draco had all the furniture transfigured, turning it into a study that the two of them shared. They each had their own table, and they used them when they brought home work to do. There were several shelves filled with books and filing cabinets, and in one corner was Dark's cage. The owl was inside, asleep.
Hermione opened the door slowly and, after passing the threshold, left it ajar. She walked over to Draco's desk. Even though he had told her that he couldn't tell her anything, her curiosity always won. She suspected that something was going on in the Department of Mysteries and she needed to know what it was.
She sat back in the chair and took a deep breath, hesitating again. Draco had asked her many times not to look, that everything related to his work was something only Unspeakables could know and, as much as he wanted to, he could not tell her anything. But Hermione had a bad feeling, and she wanted to know what was going on.
Hermione worked in the Department of the Minister for Magic, she was Arthur Weasley's personal secretary and that is why she was aware of everything that happened in magical society. And something was giving her a bad feeling, but she didn't know why. When she asked Draco if something important had happened in the Department of Mysteries and he simply scowled, her suspicions increased.
She sighed one last time and tried to open the second drawer but, as she expected, Draco had protected his things with magic.
"Alohomora," she whispered, but when she tried again the drawer still wouldn't open.
Hermione clenched her jaw and closed her eyes, trying to guess the spell that was preventing her from opening it.
"I knew you were going to be here."
She couldn't help but jump at the sound of Draco's voice, placing a hand on her chest. He was in the doorway, frowning at her.
"Don't be angry... I just want to know what's happening, I want to help you."
Draco rolled his eyes and walked over to her, placing both hands on the table.
"You know I can't tell you anything."
"But I've been there, I know the things that are hidden in those rooms… and I think I know what's going on."
He pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes.
"Unbreakable vow, Hermione. They force us all to do it the first day and you know it," he growled in a deep voice.
"But you don't have to tell me anything… I could guess."
Draco raised an eyebrow and sat on the table, folding his arms. Hermione leaned back in the chair and bit the inside of her cheek as she thought.
"I don't think it has anything to do with those disgusting brains… though I'd love to know what you do with them, I've never understood its purpose."
Draco's lips curved into a small smile but he didn't say a word.
"No, I suspect that you are in the room of prophecies, and that a new one has appeared that has made you all nervous."
His smile disappeared and Hermione's eyes lit up.
"Is that, isn't it? A prophecy," she said, standing up.
Draco just watched her as she came around the table, to his side.
"I know you can't tell me ... but I'm quite sure about it," she whispered, rubbing one of his arms.
He sighed and looked into her eyes.
"We should go to sleep, it's late."
She nodded and left the room. Draco turned before closing the door and cast another spell on his desk, just in case. He knew very well that nothing could stop Hermione when she wanted to know something, but at least she did not know all the spells that he had learned as an Unspeakable, and that was why it was practically impossible for her to open the drawers of his table. But, with the brightest witch of their age, all caution was little.
Another chapter in a week!