A/N I'm a very evil person aren't I? I tricked you ALL last chapter, ha ha ha! "DRACO POPS 'THE' QUESTION!" ha ha, you have no clue how many reviews I got that said stuff along the lines of: 'that's not the question I was expecting!" I was laughing so hard! Sorry all, but that's just my cruel mind at work. ~ Grin ~. Sorry, but I HAD to do it! Couldn't resist the temptation!
Dedicated to: Professor's Cortex and Hullabub for sticking with me throughout this, and still being there after so long; and to Calypso in Love, for booting me off my procrastinating ass and getting me to write again. I owe you a bunch!
Disclaimer: I own nothing, I have nothing for you to take, so don't sue! And please don't take my plot line! It's the only thing I have of slight value!
Chapter 27: Inheritance
~ Hermione's POV ~
I wasn't going to press the subject. If he wasn't sure if he loved me or not then it's his own feelings. I'm not going to force him to love me or anything. His feelings will sort themselves out sooner or later…but better sooner than later. We didn't talk about the subject of love for the rest of the weekend and because of Saturday's conversation we somehow mentally agreed not to snog. I don't know how that came about, it just, by some strange occurrence, did.
On Monday morning I got an owl. But that wasn't the strange thing; instead of flying down from the open windows like the mail usually comes from, it flew straight form across the room. It was from Draco. Tied to the owls' leg was a full, complete copy of the Daily Prophet. 'So no connections this time eh, Draco?' I thought to myself. On the front page was a (moving) picture of the same two Ministry officials that we saw on Saturday holding none other than Lucius Malfoy upright. The headline read: Malfoy Sentenced to Azkaban. I looked up at Draco who was smirking at me. He signalled me to continue reading.
'Last night, at exactly 11 PM, Lucius Malfoy was convicted of escaping Azkaban several months ago and attempted murder of two Hogwarts seventh years, Hermione Granger, and his very own son, Draco Malfoy. The previous charges of his first arrest still remain. One Auror, seen in the above photograph commented, "Malfoy will be put under high security guard, similar to that of Sirius Black's arrest. Hopefully, he won't escape this time."
Previously mentioned Miss Granger and Mr Malfoy recaptured him last week on the Hogwarts grounds late that night. The specific details of said capture are unknown now under request of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. "Who cares how it was done, as long as it was." Said Professor Severus Snape, Potions Master at Hogwarts.
An official investigation is being held as to whether or not Malfoy shall be receiving the Dementor's Kiss later on.'
I looked up at the Slytherin table to smile at Draco but he wasn't there. As I looked around the room I heard the Great Hall doors close firmly shut. "Is everything all right Hermione?" asked Ron who was pouring more milk into his cereal bowl.
"You bet! I'll catch you guys up in Potions." I said as I folded the paper and put it in my bag. Before they could ask me why, I walked out of the hall.
There was no sign of Draco; no rustling of robes, or clicking of heels. He probably left for Potions early. With this in mind I made my way towards the dungeons. I passed the many dungeons before the Potions one. Suddenly something grabbed me from behind and covered my mouth with its' hand and something was put around my eyes. I tried to scream but the hand was in the way. The thing was pulling me backward into one of the smaller dungeons and I heard the rusty hinges on the wooden door creak shut. I felt like crying but I didn't want to give this attacker a sense of triumph if it saw me crying. My feelings betrayed my mind and a single lone tear escaped the side of my eye.
~ Draco's POV ~
During breakfast I saw a smile begin to creep upon Hermione's features. I could tell she was reaching the end of the article, so I got up to leave. I didn't have to tell anyone, after all, I have no 'friends' in my house anyway. I walked out of the hall to wait for Hermione but I had a better idea than just waiting around. I hid in one of the smaller dungeons near the Potions one and left the door open to see and hear if Hermione was coming nearby. It was dark enough in the room so there was no need to hide behind anything, so I waited by the door.
I didn't have to wait long, only five minutes tops, until I heard soft footsteps coming down the stone steps and down the dark hallway. As she passed the door I quietly left the room and snuck up on her. Taking my black handkerchief from my pocket I tied the ends so I could blindfold her. I swiftly put it around her eyes and covered her mouth as I dragged her backward by the waist into the same dungeon that I was in.
I deepened my voice even more so she couldn't recognise it as I whispered into her ear, "If you're quiet, I'll un-blindfold you and move my hand. Be a good girl Hermione." She nodded and I slowly released my hand. I should've known she'd scream because as soon as my hand was fully off of her face she screamed. I quickly put my hand back but left the blindfold off. I released her waist, took out my wand and muttered "Lumos" to get light into the room.
"Now be quiet or I'll have to hurt you." And I playfully poked the non-lit end of my wand at her ribs. I felt my hand get wet as a tear made it's way down her face. I didn't mean to scare her this much. She nodded anyway and I released my hand and then my wand slowly.
I turned her around so she could see me. In the dim light she could still make out my face, and I hers. There was a small tear - stain on her cheek and I put my hand to her face to wipe it away. She swatted it away and glared at me. "How dare you! You scared me to death! Why in bloody hell did you pull that stunt?" she shrieked at me.
I couldn't help but smirk. "It was funny OK! Lighten up Hermione!"
She inhaled deeply and then pounced on me. I staggered back and landed on the floor. She was straddled around my waist and was beating my chest furiously. "Tell me to lighten up do you!" she hissed at me.
I laughed and easily grabbed both of her wrists with one hand and flipped her around so she was under me. I raised her arms above her head; she was helpless in that position. "Are you going to co-operate if I let you up?" I asked her.
She nodded, still mad at me. I got off of her and gave her my hand to pull her up. She took it and leaned against one of the long tables nearby. "What do you think of the article in the paper?"
"How do we know he's not going to escape? If he's being put under the same security that Sirius was, then he might escape like he did." She said.
"Sirius Black is an Animagus right?" she nodded, "Lucius isn't. So therefore, he can't escape by turning into an animal because he can't. Enough of an explanation?" I said.
"True…do you think he's really going to get the Kiss?" her face blanched at the thought of anyone getting the Dementor's Kiss; a fate worse than death.
"No. He won't. There's not enough against him. True he was, never mind, still is a death eater; he'll just get locked up because of that. And about him attacking us, that's not much of a reason. No, he'll just get locked up for eternity." Even though he really does deserve the Kiss; after all the stuff he's done to me.
"Well, it's good enough that he's getting locked up. I hate imagining anybody getting the Kiss." She visibly shuddered.
I stepped towards her and said in a husky voice, "You know, there's nothing wrong with some kisses."
She smiled, "Really? What kind are those?" She catches on fast…
I wrapped my arms around her waist and said softly, looking down to her, "These kind." And covered her mouth with mine, my wand dropping with a soft clatter.
The kiss started off soft and sweet, then got deeper with each of our movements. One of her hands that were in my hair went under the collar of my robes and my muscles jumped wherever her feather-light touches were. I pulled her neck towards me to deepen it even more and she parted her lips to let my tongue in. Using my other hand I unclasped her robe and then played with the hem of her shirt once the robe fell to the stone floor of the dungeon. I slid my hand up her shirt and made small circles at the small of her back. She moaned at the back of her throat.
We heard a low rumbling coming from outside the door and then the chattering of several voices making their way past the closed door. We broke apart; realising it was time for Potions. She hastily picked up her discarded robe from the floor and, with shaking fingers, clasped it back on herself. She started to try and fix her tousled hair, courtesy of my hands, back to its original tamed self. I myself easily ran a hand through my mussed up hair and straightened my robes. "Are you ready?" I asked her after I picked up my fallen wand.
She nodded and picked up her bag, which was thrown to the side of the door when she jumped on me. With a final pat to her hair, she opened the dungeon door and I held it open for her to go out. We were the last two people in the room so we received some stares. Some of the other guys noticed Hermione blush at the attention and nodded towards me knowingly. I did nothing but glare at them all and they all turned their unworthy attention to the waiting Professor Snape. Hermione and I turned to our separate sides of the room and sat with our own house members. It was a cruel reminder of the still separate lives we led.
~*~
~ Normal Perspective ~
The last month before the end of the year swiftly turned to the two last weeks. Hermione and Draco's unspoken no-snogging agreement seemed to be discarded since their dungeon incident. There were more spirited times when another Daily Prophet article (saying that Lucius wouldn't receive the Kiss) arrived with a very official looking letter for Draco one evening when they were both revising for their upcoming NEWTS. It was sealed with a black and gold Gringotts' seal, written in an elegant hand. The letter read:
Mr D. Malfoy,
It has come to our, the Gringotts' Goblins that Mr Lucius Malfoy is currently spending his time in Azkaban. As it is clearly stated in the Malfoy Fortune Degree, Section F under 'Inheritance' that if the senior Malfoy is unable to oversee all transactions of said fortune, that the next Malfoy family member would be put in control of said accounts.
Once Mr L. Malfoy inherited his fathers' fortune he specifically stated that his own wife, Mrs Narcissa Malfoy would not receive his fortune if he should happen to pass away. So next on the Malfoy Family Tree, you shall be placed responsible for the Malfoy Wizarding Fortune if you wish to do so.
Please send, by return owl, your acceptation or declination to be held responsible for the Malfoy Wizarding Fortune by June 1.
Thank you,
Ethel Balestrom
Wizard Banking Relations
Gringotts Bank; Diagon Alley
"You know I've dreamed of owning all that money since as long as I can remember?" he marvelled at the letter in his hands.
"Well then, what thought are you putting into this if your dream is coming true?" Hermione said from over the top of a History text.
"I know I'm going to do it, I'm just thinking over all the possibilities, both good and bad of owning the millions upon billions of Galleons just sitting in those near hundreds of vaults underground." He couldn't help but act pompous thinking about all his money.
"You don't have to rub it into the faces of the poor Muggle-born people that are sitting here too." She said back sarcastically.
He ignored her, "I'm in charge of one of the wealthiest fortunes in England. I could buy whatever I want, whenever I want. I now have goblins in Gringotts that would be available at my call to withdraw any amount of Galleons I want. But there's also the possibility of me spending it all and putting my family into bankruptcy and never being able to live it down for as long as I live."
"Well, you could always work and get money instead of swimming in the lakes of Galleons that you have. And there are obviously wizard stock markets right? Just play your cards…er…Exploding Snap packs right and you'll be rolling in even more Galleons instead of worrying that you'll spend it all on yourself, and perhaps a certain girlfriend that could always use a new book every once in a while." She grinned.
"Very funny. You want to spend who-knows-how-much-money on books? You're out of your mind! I could very well buy my own Quidditch Team! Sack all those Chudley Cannons and turn them all into…Malfoy Dragon's or something." he tried not to notice the incessant giggling and snickering from behind the worn History textbook. "But the stock idea is good, I'm fairly sure my fa—Lucius has some somewhere in the very large Manor that I live in." he smirked at his own pride.
"Yes, whatever. You keep acting as if you already own all that money, when technically, you don't. Not yet anyway. Not until this," she took the letter, "Ethel Balestrom sends you back some official certification of…Malfoy Wizarding Fortune ownership." She gave him back the letter.
"Technicalities, technicalities. I'm accepting, so I own it." He took out another piece of parchment and wrote, while dictating aloud, "Miss E. Balestrom; I, Draco Malfoy hereby accept all responsibility for the Malfoy Wizarding Fortune and understand all conditions and terms that apply. Thank you, Draco Malfoy." He signed his name and tied the scroll to the leg of the patiently waiting owl and let it fly off. "Done, and done." He closed all his books and reclined on his chair, his heels on the desk.
She rolled her eyes, "Well Mister I'm-too-rich-and-snobby-for-my-own-good, if you're done revising for the History NEWTS then tell me, when did Creepy Karl of the country now known as Croatia create the concoction to help restrain evil crawling Kappas? Hmm?" she raised her eyebrows waiting for an answer.
"You know what? A bit more revising wouldn't hurt at all, would it?" he immediately sat up and continued to write his notes on his already long roll of parchment.
"That's what I thought." She grinned at him and closed her own books and went to lie down on the couch, watching her very rich, very proud, but also very cute boyfriend hastily scrawl his notes.
~ End of Chapter 27 ~
A/N: Hehe that one was fun to write. Especially the ending with the money and stuff. ~ sigh ~ I wish I had that much money, but in realistic dollars. Haha! And phew what a tongue twister! "Creepy Karl of the country now known as Croatia create the concoction to help restrain evil crawling Kappas" I tried saying that 3 times fast but I couldn't do it. L Poor me. And in case you don't know, Kappas are a Japanese water demon who waits to suck human blood from people in rivers or something. I read it in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Pretty good book if I may say so myself. hehe
And in case you're wondering when Draco's gonna answer the question from last chapter, you'll have to wait and see! Other answers to certain questions about last chapter…um…the thing that Draco suspected in last chapter won't be answered. It was just a whim thing, I don't think it has much relevance in THIS story * wink wink nudge nudge *. I'm trying to make up for the loss of chapters so I wrote this right after I read the reviews I got for chapter 26. Hope you enjoyed!
Thanks to: LadyKassandra, Audry14, hyper_shark, Mione G, ytyer6ggyhyt, Katalina O'Riley.
Also to…
Mediterranean Queen: Well as long as we've updated at one point in our lives then that's what counts, right? Haha! And I don't mind if you took me off your favourites list, as long as I still get a review, right? Haha! And I really got you there didn't I? Well, it WAS a question, not THE question. Hehe! Thanks for the review!
Calypso in Love: How is this for a non-procrastinated chapter eh? Less than 48 hours! Take that! Heck, they could be freaky evil twins, use your imagination! But I wanted to creepiness to be there, yay I've completed my goal! Perhaps you've figured the two men out, but I'm not revleaing it now, maybe in the sequel, but not in FL, it's semi-advertisement for the new story I tell ya! You're right, it was a simply choice, so I picked the dying one! Wait…no…the writing one! Yes! That's it! Aren't I smart? Yup, that's me. Haha!
TFG: I made up for the loss of chapters over the month! This one, in less that….48 hours since the last one! I have been redeemed!
Chrissy: Well, they are Ministry officials, but there could be something up with them. Like I said they don't play any relevance in THIS story. *Grin* harharhar. It WAS a question though, I'm purty darn sneaky aren't I? Haha!
Mackie: Thank you thank you thank you! It's a constructive criticising review! I haven't had one of those in a while! Well, about the eyes, that's a mistake on my part, I honestly didn't know hazel eyes were GREENISH brown. I just focused on the brown. And let's IMAGINE that it was…um…mint chocolate, yeah that's right. Hehe. Making up new words is fun! It's creative!
Ah, now I think there'll only be one more chapter left! Oh no! FL will come to an end! Say it isn't so! Well, there's going to be a sequel anyway, so you'll all just have to wait for that one now won't you? Review if you would be so kind. J