Made of You Part 10
Disclaimers: I don't own any of these characters.
A/N: Well, I'm now thinking of ending the story at part 15. I really don't know yet, cuz I
could end up making it longer than that, so nothing's final. Well, hope you enjoy
this edition! J
"Come in."
At the sound of Lucius' voice, Pansy opened the door to his study and entered. Once inside, she remarked the gloominess of the room, with its dark-green walls and heavy drapes covering the windows, preventing sunlight from coming in. The atmosphere was cold and dank, evoking a sense of dread in one's soul. Sustaining a shudder of fear, Pansy strode to the desk where Lucius sat. Seeing her, he shifted his attention from the paperwork on his desk to her tall, standing form.
"So what brings you here on a day like this? May I guess it has something to do with my son?" His voice seemed detached, almost annoyed. Pansy knew that she had intruded on his private time, but her circumstance was too crucial to wait.
"You're damned right it's about your son, Lucius. As a matter of fact, you'd be quite interested to hear who he was with last night." Her last words caused his eyes to narrow, an alert expression forming on his face.
"Speak up, girl. I've no time for guessing games."
"Very well, then," she said smugly, "last night, your precious heir was seen in the very company of that mudblood whore, Hermione Granger."
To her utter surprise, instead of falling into a rage like she'd expected, Lucius' expression suddenly relaxed in relief. "Is that all?" he exclaimed. "Dear God, girl, you almost had me scared for a moment!"
By this time, Pansy had become incredulous. "What do you mean by 'Is that all?' Those two have been romping about like a bunch of animals the whole night, and you sit here making it sound like it's an everyday thing!"
Chuckling under his breath, Lucius eyed his daughter-to-be with vast amusement. "So I see Draco took my advice after all. Smart boy, I knew I could count on him."
"What did you say?!" Pansy was almost on the verge of hysterics, having heard his last words. "You planned this?" She had a sudden urge to grab Lucius by the neck and choke the smug look off of his face.
"Why, you underestimate my son entirely, Pansy. You must know by now that he has an ulterior motive in everything he does. Do you really think he was with Hermione last night for just a simple romp? Surely you know him better than that." His expression now turned from amusement to genuine surprise at the fact that she was not aware of Draco's plan.
"But if this is so, then why didn't he tell me anything beforehand?" She was still doubtful about Lucius' explanation, no matter what he claimed.
"Ask no more questions regarding this matter. I will not have you snooping around my family business, whether you're Draco's fiancée or not. Is that clear?" By his tone of voice, she knew that the discussion had come to an end. Further questions would undoubtedly lead to unwanted consequences.
"Very well then, father, I'll ask no further. As always, you can depend on me to keep your secrets. Good day." And with that, she stomped out of the room, angry that she had ever relied on him to solve her problems. She was a fool, a total fool, to have thought that any good would come out of involving herself with this family. How could Lucius possibly think that…that Draco had planned all the things that had occurred last night?
So Draco took my advice after all. Smart boy, I knew I could count on him.
But what if…? What if what Lucius said was really true? Then what? Pansy's mind began to swarm. For the first time since last night, she realized that it was not entirely impossible for Draco to have done what his father had accused him of doing a moment ago. In fact, it seemed more and more likely that he had planned everything. But that means…
She suddenly winced at the memory of her treatment of him last night. Oh God, she must've made such a fool of herself in front of Draco and Hermione. To think that he was probably laughing at her inwardly all the time… The thought made her turn red with embarrassment and anger. Why hadn't he told her about his plans in the first place to save all this misunderstanding?
But there was so little time to begin with, she argued back. And besides, Draco was the kind of man who did whatever came to mind, answering to no one, giving no explanations. This finally convinced her, and for once since last night, Pansy felted relaxed, even content. To think that Hermione had been duped by Draco all this time was enough to make her day all the brighter. The prospect of seeing Granger's face when she found out the truth brought a smile to Pansy's face. Oh, she'd definitely be there for the revelation. That was the one thing in the world she wouldn't miss. And with those thoughts in mind, she stepped out of Lucius's mansion, and into the now splendid sunshine of the morning.
****************
Harry peered out the window of the Sunset Inn, staring into the clear blue sky. If only the real world was as perfect as it seemed on the outside. He had arrived in Derbeville, a town two and a half miles from the Malfoy estates, only an hour ago. Having found Sunset Inn to be the only inn in town, he had decided to settle there. It would give him an adequate amount of time to investigate and plan Hermione's rescue. Malfoy had given him a week, which meant that he had seven days in all. He would start out the first day by asking around the village for any information regarding Hermione.
The thought of what she might be going through at that very moment caused Harry's gut to twist with anguish. He blamed himself as much as Malfoy for her abduction. If only he hadn't been so stupid and had kept her by his side, instead of pushing her away right into the hands of the enemy. Learning from past mistakes, Harry promised himself that once he got Hermione back, he would deny her nothing, giving her the full affection from him that she deserved. As for Malfoy, he would destroy him, along with the rest of his family, for attempting to hurt the woman he loved. There will be no mercy. Harry smiled grimly at the prospect, feeling ice-cold rage rush through his veins, relishing in it.
"Excuse me, Mr. Potter? Your room is ready." Harry turned abruptly at the sound of the female voice behind him. It was Marlaine, daughter of the old innkeeper. Looking into her pretty face, he smiled graciously, holding his previous anger in check.
"Thank you, Marlaine. I'll be up shortly."
Blushing pink, the girl turned and hurried out of the room, golden locks catching the sunlight as she flounced away. If circumstances weren't so crucial, Harry would have been rather amused by her obvious interest in him. However, this was not so, for his task was too sobering to joke about anything. Sighing, he picked up the knapsack holding all his belongings, heading for the stairs to his room.
"Ack, those darned Malfoys, aint know what's comin' their way that's fer sure. One day, they'd be cuddlin' like a buncha sick puppies, and th' next thing ya know, the other one's been caught cheatin'".
Not believing what he'd just heard, Harry turned towards the direction of the voice, finding two old men by the fireplace, conversing with one another. Hardly believing his luck, he strode over to where they sat. Both men seemed in their late sixties or early seventies, each with crooked, emaciated figures. The one who had spoken looked up, scowling at Harry's sudden intrusion.
"Off wi' ye! Whadya think yer doin' here, listenin' on our conversation?"
"I'm sorry to intrude on you sir, but I thought I overheard you talking about the Malfoys," Harry said anxiously. "You were saying something about someone cheating…?"
Luckily, the old man was one of the common gossipers who loved to show off what they knew around town, and was more than happy to give the information Harry was looking for.
"Weeell, if ye be interested in me stories, then I guess it'd be alright fer ye to stay. See here now, there's this gal in town, she be one o'the maids fro' Malfoy Manor. Las' night she was runnin' an errand an' overheard sumthin' bout a fight b'tween heir Malfoy an' that hoity-toity fiancée o' his. Seems there be another gal there too. Couldn't tell though, th' argument wuss behin' them bedroom doors. Then jus minutes later, Miz Pansy comes out, shoutin' sumthin' bout how master Draco can have his sluts if he wanted, but she aint goin' take it no more."
Hearing what the old man had just said, Harry's head began to swarm with possibilities. What if the other girl… No, it couldn't be possible. But...
"Are you sure this is exactly what happened, sir?"
The man became slightly indignant at Harry's tone of doubt. "O'course I'm sure. If ye dun trust me, then go an' ask the maid herself. She'll set ye straight, she will."
"And who's this maid? Where does she live?" Harry asked anxiously.
"See yonder street out th'window? Go straight up, an' ye'll find a lil' yellow house. That'd be hers. Ask fer Marie. Now off with ye, I've no time fer yer silly questioning."
Having gotten all the information he needed, Harry gave his thanks to the old man, leaving the inn in search of his next clue.
****************
From the window in his second floor office, Draco had a perfect view of Hermione, observing the plants in the garden below. His heart clenched at the sight of her beauty, knowing that innocence and beauty would be shattered once he did what he had to do. Even now, he was still confused by the feelings she conjured in him. But there was no time to think about such things, he told himself. Everything was going according to plan. In less than a week, Potter and Voldemort, his two most bitter enemies, would be destroyed. And was that not what he had always wanted? But if so, then why the sinking feeling in his heart? Why the regret?
His gaze once again strayed to Hermione down below. She was sitting on a stone bench, observing the rare Andalusian plant his mother had always loved to grow. What would become of her when all this was over? She would have found out the truth by then, and all the trust and affection that he had gained from her would be gone. In place would be hatred, soul-shattering and deep. He did not think he could bear that. What was he to do? In all his life, the one thing Draco had learned was that one did not fall for the enemy.
Is that what I've done? Not for the first time, he wondered if he had actually fallen in love with Hermione without even his noticing. Nonsense. He was not capable of love, had lost the capacity for it when he had realized the truth about his unworthy birth. He was the product of violence and rape, of fear and hatred. A person like him was not made to love in the first place, did not deserve to love. Besides, nothing would ever come of their relationship. He was engaged to be married; there was no room in his life for her. But no matter how much he drilled that into his head, he could not stop the quickening of his heartbeat whenever he was near her, or the feeling of pure happiness when in her company… Dammit. He was in love with her.
Even while his head denied it, Draco knew the truth deep down inside his heart, had always known it in some part of his subconsciousness. He had always been in love with Hermione, ever since Hogwarts. Then, he had used scorn to cover up his feelings for her. He had been too unprepared to accept the truth during that stage, but dear god, he was twenty-three now and it was about time he came to terms with his feelings. But the one lingering question now was, how was he supposed to betray the woman he loved?
****************
The garden at Malfoy Manor was not the usual orangery and rose bushes. In the eyes of a muggle, it would seem like any ordinary jungle, with its wild and exotic plants. Yet to her long-trained witch's eyes, the plants were more than just that. They held an aura of mystery, as if hiding a past secret. Kneeling down to observe the nearest plant, Hermione suddenly felt strong arms encircle her waist.
"Having fun?" The deep huskiness of Draco's voice suddenly rendered her muscles weak, his warm breath fanning the nape of her neck. Rising, she turned around, laying her head against his chest. The feel of him around her gave her a sense of comfort she had never felt before.
"You should go inside, Hermione. There's no guarantee that you'll be completely safe out-of-doors. Voldemort may easily gain access to the gardens."
Hearing the sudden strain in his voice, Hermione raised her head, looking into his troubles blue eyes.
"There's something bothering you, Draco. Tell me what it is."
For a brief moment he hesitated, as if reluctant to speak. Then, all of a sudden, the words came out in a rush of emotion.
"I don't want any harm to befall upon you, ever, do you understand, Hermione? I don't know what I would do if anything does. I think I'd…"
"Shh, no more." She pressed her hand against his lips, stopping the flow of words. In return, he kissed it, nibbling at the sensitive area of her palm. His kisses slowly trailed from her hand, up her arms, over her shoulders, and finally on her lips. As their mouths fused together, Hermione felt a jolt of desire tear through her, causing her to shudder. He was sweet, so sweet…
And suddenly, he broke the kiss, startling her. His gaze became urgent, as if in earnest. A look of indecisiveness crossed his features for one scant instant, but was soon replaced by hard-set determination. Hermione could feel his distress, coursing through his veins, tightening every nerve.
"There's something else, isn't there, Draco? Tell me what it is. Please."
Taking a step closer, he enclosed her small hands within his. "Alright then, Hermione. I just need you to answer this one question: are you still in love with Potter?"
Unprepared for his spontaneous question, she was left speechless, rooted to the ground like one of the garden plants. She did not know what to say; it was as if her brain had suddenly stopped functioning. When moments passed and she still made no answer, Draco suddenly released her hands and began to back away.
"I knew it. You are still in love with him." Turning from her, he began to stride back to the house, and then abruptly stopped in his tracks. Not bothering to turn around, he said to her, in a cool, composed voice, "It was foolish to think that there can ever be anyone but him."
Underneath the apparent coolness of his voice, she sensed his pain and torment. What are you doing, Hermione? She couldn't just let him leave like this, not without telling him how she felt first.
She was not in love with Harry, not anymore. For, ever since she had set eyes on Draco during that fateful masquerade ball, her heart was already conquered by another. And he was the only one she loved now, him and no other. Dear God, she had to tell him this, she had to!
"Draco!" Calling out his name, Hermione ran to him, not caring anymore about the consequences.
At the sound of her voice, he whirled around, eyes widening as she threw herself into his embrace, wrapping her arms tightly around him.
"Don't go," she whispered against his chest, "I need you." Her voice was raw, so full of emotion… Draco could only dare to believe… Pushing her head back from his chest, he stared deeply into her eyes, the only window to her soul.
"Do you love him?" he whispered hoarsely, desperately.
Her eyes swimming with tears, she gazed at him steadily, shaking her head.
"No," she whispered back, "not as long as you have my heart." Tears streamed down her face, staining her cheeks.
He could not believe what he had just heard. Her words froze him in place, causing him to lose composure. It couldn't be…Dear God, she, Hermione, had just openly confessed her love for him! Crying out in joy, he pulled her back into his embrace, crushing her to his chest, never wanting to let her go. This was where he wanted her to be, by his side, forever.
They stayed within one another's arms for what seemed like an eternity, each loathe to part from the other. It was Hermione who finally pulled away, looking deeply into Draco's intense blue eyes. There was something in them, an expression she could not quite comprehend. She saw adoration, devotion, but there was also an odd sense of determination there. As if making a silent promise…
Staring into her innocent, trusting eyes, Draco felt all his previous resolutions melt, all his well-thought plans turn into dust. He could not, would not betray her. She was too valuable for him to lose, no matter what the consequences. Sooner of later, the fires of hell would eventually consume him, yet he didn't care. To have her now was what he wanted, needed, craved. She was his eternal salvation. And even if he could not keep her forever, at least he would have the memory of what heaven had been like. It would be burned into his memory forever…
With a sudden, swift movement, he lifted her into his arms and began to carry her back into the house, his strides fast and determined. Her arms snaked around his neck, clinging onto him like a lifesaver. They both knew the short limit of their happiness, and each wanted to cherish what small amount of time they had together. For when the time came that they had to part their separate ways, there will be no turning back.
*****************
The yellow house was not hard to find, being the only Tudor-style house that was still existent in town. It was large and spacious, yet old and worn. The paint was peeling, the walls cracked with age. The roof no doubt leaked on rainy days.
Walking up the crooked steps, Harry came upon the front door, knocking twice to see if anyone was home. Immediately, he heard light, brisk footsteps approaching, and moments later, the door was thrown open, revealing a thin young girl, around the age of eighteen. At the sight of Harry, her small, dark eyes turned from expectant to questioning.
"Who're yew?"
Hearing the obvious suspicion in the her voice, Harry smiled reassuringly, extending his hand out to her.
"I'm truly sorry to bother you, miss. Are you Marie? My name is Harry Potter. If you do not mind, I need your assistance regarding a very crucial matter."
She stared down at his extended hand, the look of suspicion on her face deepening.
"I dunno what yew mean, sir."
"I was informed that you work for the Malfoys, am I correct?" At her reluctant nod, he continued, "Then if so, would you kindly answer several questions regarding last night's events?"
At his last remark, the girl blanched, as if seeing a ghost. She took a few steps back, reaching for the doorknob. Catching her sudden movement, Harry seized her hand, grasping it tightly.
"Listen, this may sound incredible, but you are the only person who can help me. Someone very important to me may be in danger from the Malfoys. I know you overheard something from Master Draco's room last night, and I need you to tell me exactly what it was. Please." His voice had turned hoarse, his eyes becoming desperate.
Seeing his sudden desperation, the girl finally, reluctantly, relented.
"But yew have to promise not to tell anyone about this, or I lose me job."
"You have my word."
Assured by his promise, she began her account of the previous night's events.
"Yew see, I was just passin' the hallway when I heard shouting comin' from Master Draco's room. It seemed there were two others wi' him, both female. One o' them was screamin' about the other bein' a whore. The one who was screamin' sounded a lot like Miss Pansy. An' I think the other one's name was sumthin' like Herm… ach, I can't remember."
"Was it Hermione?" Harry asked tensely.
"Yes, Hermione! That's it. So as I was sayin' the argument got louder, an' then all of a sudden, there was bangin' and a few minutes later, Miss Pansy came out. After that, the room b'came silent, and that's that."
In his head, Harry reviewed all the information he had just heard. And that's that? What would Hermione be doing in his room in the first place? And what happened after Pansy left? A chill suddenly swept over his body. Dear God, if Draco even laid a finger on her…
"Sir? Are yew alright?" The girl stared at him with concern, as if regarding a deranged or wounded animal.
Snapping out of his thoughts, he looked at the girl, a plan suddenly forming in his head. It would be risky, but there was no other way. For Hermione's sake…
"When are you on duty for the Malfoys?" he suddenly asked, earnestly.
"Now why d'ya want to know that for, mister?" Her tone was questioning, yet there was a hint of understanding in her eyes.
"Why?" he asked, laughing ruefully. "Because I'll be needing you to gain entry to Malfoy estates, tonight."
Oh gosh, guys, I'm soooo sorry that this took forever to write. I feel really bad for making everyone wait so long. I know you don't like to hear all my lame explanations, yadda, yadda, yadda, so I'll spare you this time. BTW, in case you haven't noticed, there's a major contradiction in this part. (Hint: notice that the maid was surprised to find out that Harry knew about her eavesdropping) Anyway, this edition was sort of lacking, I know. I'll really try to do a better job next time. Oh yeah, and tell me if I should continue my vampire series, because it seems that not a lot of people favor it. Well, till next time, folks! R/R J