~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Chapter 8: Playing with Fire ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Krum drove everyone back to the manor, filtering out the conversation around him, he was deep in thought. Ever since Harry's return, he couldn't shake this feeling that he had. It ate at him, nagged him.
He slept most of the day, got up to shower and make himself a meal. He didn't want to pry into his hosts' personal items, so he just stuck to the living room. He walked around the room, examining pictures on the mantle. One made him stop and pick it up. It was of Harry, Hermione and Ron in between, taken in what he recognized as the front of Hogwarts. He watched as the three laughed at whomever was taking the picture. Harry once in awhile turning to look at Hermione, then quickly looking away as she turned to look at him. There. The feeling came again. He quickly set the picture back down, picked up a book on Quidditch on a nearby table, and plopped down into a seat.
But, he couldn't concentrate. The feeling just grew and grew. What was it? He looked in the direction of the picture again. Guilt. That was what the feeling was. Guilt that had bothered and festered within him, ever since Harry came back. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It happened a little over five years ago…
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He had walked into Harry's room to find his things packed and ready to go. Harry sat on the bed, elbows on knees, palms together, fingers pointing out.
"So, I guess you're all ready to go?" he asked Harry.
"Yeah, yeah I guess I am."
"Please tell me you are going back to England."
Harry hesitated before speaking again.
"No, I think I'm going to travel for a bit. See if I can learn some more."
"I think you're ready."
Harry got up from the bed and picked up his bags.
"You can always learn more."
Viktor took the copy of the Daily Prophet out of his robes. The headline read: Death Eater Attacks Rising!
"Did you read this?" he asked Harry.
"Yeah, I already did." he replied as he pushed his way past Viktor out the bedroom door.
Viktor followed him to the front door. "Then you know that they need you. Your friends need you. They're in danger and you know it."
Harry sighed as he stood in front of the door, hand on the knob. He set his bags down and turned to face Viktor.
"I need you to do me a favor. No, I need you to promise me something, as a trusted friend." Harry said.
"Of course. Anything."
"Watch over her for me. Keep her safe. Please. I trust you."
Viktor knew whom this promise was about. Hermione. Even though, Harry had never spoken a word about her since he arrived in Bulgaria, he knew at that moment that Harry did love her. Loved her intensely. The look in Harry's eyes told him so.
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And he had kept his promise after all these years. He kept her safe, gave her a home and a purpose. But it was inevitable what would happen, after all, she was a beautiful woman and he was a man enchanted by her. He knew he didn't take her maidenhood, even though she did bleed a little that night, he chose not to dwell on that. And every time he made love to her, there was a feeling inside of him, gnawing at him. He would thrust into her, driving the feeling deep inside of him until all he felt was the pleasure that overwhelmed him and took them both to their release. But it was only temporary. The feeling would come back later as they lay together, him holding her naked body against his as she slept. It felt like he was enjoying something that wasn't really his to enjoy. A guilty pleasure. For that was all it really was. And it lasted like this for a year, until he couldn't take the weight and burden of it. He had a feeling that Hermione wasn't enjoying it as well. She was always holding back, never fully committing. When it was over, they still remained close friends, and the heavy weight inside him finally lifted.
But the feelings, long buried for years, rushed back as soon as Harry arrived. He felt awful, guilty, a horrible friend he had been. Harry had entrusted him to watch over his true love and keep her safe from harm. Instead, he had partaken in the fruits of the spoils that were not his to take. He knew this day would come and he had no idea how to approach this situation. Did he dare tell his friend what had happened between them? Yes, he had to. Honesty was the best policy. But, maybe Harry wouldn't care what happened. Maybe he didn't feel the same about her? He didn't know how Harry felt about her. I mean, he didn't reveal himself to her. She still thought he was Jameson. Maybe that was a good thing, since the last time he brought Harry's name up to Hermione the reaction wasn't what he thought it would be ("I DON'T GIVE A FUCK WHAT THAT COWARD IS UP TO! I DON'T EVEN CARE IF HE'S ALIVE BECAUSE HE'S DEAD TO ME!"). Yes, maybe it was a good thing that Harry kept his mouth shut.
They had arrived at the manor, Draco and Hermione had long given up any hope of a conversation with Viktor. As they walked through the door, Neville Longbottom ran up to them.
"Sabian was attacked today. He was ambushed outside of the Leaky Cauldron."
"Is he alright?" Hermione asked.
"He's in with the medi-witch right now. He's asleep."
"I suspected something like this vood happen. Come and get me ven he vakes." Viktor instructed.
Hermione and Viktor shared a knowing glance, and she was about to say something to him before he looked away hastily. Draco watched as a defeated Hermione walked upstairs, presumably to her room. Viktor walked into his office. He sat down at his desk, still deep in thought when Draco walked in and shut the door.
"Are you going to tell her who he is?" Draco asked quietly.
"I don't know vat you're talking about." Viktor replied still not looking at Draco.
Draco walked up to the desk, placing both hands on top of it and leaned forward.
"You know bloody well what I'm talking about. Harry Potter." he said threateningly.
Viktor thought awhile before replying. "It's not my place to tell her. If he vanted her to know, he vood've already done it."
"Are you sure you're not telling her for personal reasons?"
Viktor finally looked up at Draco giving him a sharp look. "This conversation is finished."
Draco backed up to the door and out of the office with a smug look on his face. As soon as the door shut, Viktor let out a breath. He propped his elbows on his desk, his head falling into his hands before they ran through his hair. There was too much to think about right now.
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Hermione sat in the bath she had drawn for herself. They had been attacked. First Viktor, then herself, and now Sabian. What was going on? She tried to think this through. A knock came at the door.
"It's me. Ginny."
"Come in."
Ginny walked into the bathroom and sat in a chair next to the tub.
"Are you alright, I heard what had happened."
"Just cuts and bruises. No major damage. Your brother and his friend helped rescue me."
"His friend?"
"Yes, Michael…Jameson." A troubled look fell over her face.
"The cute new auror? Lucky you, I wouldn't mind a rescue from him." Ginny noticed a blush creep over Hermione's face.
"What? What happened?" she leaned toward Hermione eagerly.
Hermione couldn't help but grin and giggle like a school girl as she told Ginny about her time alone with Michael.
"You lucky little minx! Too bad my prat of a brother interrupted. But it's about time you found some interest in someone. And an auror! You are playing with fire, girl. Oh! I just remembered, today in the lift I managed to convince Ron to bring his new friend to dinner tonight! You have to come and see him again."
"I don't know Ginny. It's been years since I've been to your parents' house."
"Oh, they'd be thrilled just to see you there. Don't worry. I know my parents wouldn't turn you in."
"What about Ron?"
"Ron wouldn't do that either. He came to your rescue today, I think it's time you two had a good conversation."
Hermione thought about it a bit. "Alright. I'll go."
Ginny squealed with happiness. "Good! Now to find you something to wear tonight." Then she tore out of the room.
Hermione got out of the tub, put on her robe and laid down on her bed. She smiled and blushed at the memory of Michael's touch and his kisses. It felt so good. She hadn't felt like that since Harry…NO! NO! NO! NO! She wouldn't let the memory of him ruin what she could have with this new guy. She had felt it earlier when she looked into Michael's eyes. Memories of Harry came flooding over her. She tried to stop it, but it washed over her in his kisses and his caresses. NO DAMMIT! She wasn't going to let Harry's memory ruin this. She would forbid it.
A knock came at her door waking her from her slumber. How long had she slept? She looked at the time. Five o'clock. Shit!! She scrambled out of bed; she was going to be late for dinner. There was a dress on the chair next to her. It was a beautiful red spaghetti strapped dress, with a note pinned to it.
Didn't want to wake you. Here's the dress, hope you like it. I'll meet you at dinner at six o'clock!
Love,
Ginny
The knock came again.
"Come in!" she yelled as she took the dress and changed behind a screen.
Draco opened the door and stepped inside.
"Who is it?" Hermione called from behind the screen.
Draco closed the door behind him. "We need to talk."
"Malfoy? What do you want?" she asked as she stepped from behind the screen.
Draco breath hitched as he looked at the woman in red in front of him. She looked stunning…for a mudblood.
"Going somewhere?" he asked a little coldly.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" she said coyly.
She didn't know why, but lately she had been enjoying the verbal foreplay with Malfoy. Maybe Ginny was right, she liked to play with fire.
"Seeing as you almost were kidnapped today. Do you really think it's wise to go out with Montgomery?"
"Who says I'm seeing him?" she asked innocently as she fixed her hair into an updo with little ringlets around her face.
Draco walked over to stand behind Hermione and picked up a necklace on her dresser. He could play too.
"Why else would you be all dressed up like this? Hoping someone like him will look over your mudbloodedness and sleep with you?" he whispered in her ear as he put the necklace on her.
She smelled wonderful, and her neck looked so inviting. He clasped the necklace then let his fingers linger by her neck. He looked up at the reflection of Hermione in the mirror. She was smiling mischievously back at him.
"I'm not planning on seeing Ashton tonight." She said ignoring the feeling she felt as Malfoy's hands lightly traveled over her shoulders and down her arms. "I'm having dinner at the Weasley's…with Michael."
Draco stopped his wandering hands and turned Hermione around to face him. "Don't see him tonight."
Hermione laughed and turned back around to put earrings in her ears. "And why not?"
"Are you stupid or something?" he asked as he stepped away from her.
"Excuse me?"
"Haven't you noticed anything strange about him? Something oddly familiar?"
Hermione looked at Draco. He was voicing a fear of hers. Something she refused to acknowledge. Playtime was over.
"Get out Malfoy."
"Don't fight it Hermione. Go with your instincts."
"I told you to leave Malfoy." She said coldly then grinned smugly at him, "You're just jealous because Michael will have something you never will."
That did it for Draco. He walked over to Hermione in two strides and grabbed her arm.
"Malfoy! What are you doing? That hurts!" she maneuvered out of his grasp. But he reached for her again casting a binding spell on his hand to her arm.
"If you refuse to see it, then I will make you see it!" he threatened as he pulled her out of her room.
"LONGBOTTOM!!" Malfoy bellowed out.
"What? What is it?" Neville was downstairs in the parlor.
Malfoy pulled a struggling Hermione with him downstairs.
"What's going on?" Neville asked.
"I need a portkey to the Weasley's."
"What? Why?"
"No questions, JUST DO IT!"
Neville scrambled to pick up an object, any object. Krum came out of his office at the sound of the commotion. He looked at a furious Malfoy and a struggling Hermione.
"Malfoy, vat are you doing?"
"You. Someone has to tell her. Since you're too chicken shit to do it. I will."
"Viktor, what is he talking about?" she asked.
Viktor looked away guiltily. Neville held out a copy of the Daily Prophet.
"Are you ready?"
Malfoy put his hand on it, Hermione followed suit. Viktor tentatively put his hand on it too.
Neville continued, "Three, two, one."
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Next Chapter: Malfoy will deliver a death blow to Harry.
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