~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Chapter 26:  Crimes of Passion ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The doors to the lift opened, letting Draco Malfoy inside.  As the lift descended, he was absentmindedly fingering the flask inside his robes.  He should be concentrating on this task, he scolded himself, but his mind kept wandering to this afternoon's events.  He had forgotten himself for a moment, forgotten in her soft lips, her luscious smell, the feel of her warmth against him.  He was surprised at the amount of passion and desire that erupted within him.  He had been burying his feelings for so long that he was surprised he didn't take her right then and there.  Would she have let him?  He had to stop this train of thought.  It didn't matter anymore, he left.

He watched silently as he slowly passed level by level.  Something happened in her room.  Powerful magic and then Hermione gets her memory back.  Hmpf.  She had help.  From a powerful wizard.  But who?  Dumbledore?  No, she would have said so.  She was frightened, terrified.  She had wanted him to drop the subject.  She cried in his arms, pleading with him.  And when she looked up at him, how could he not?  At that moment, he would've done anything for her to wipe that look off her face.  The way she clung to him, the way she—oh hell, he was doing it again.  Why did he keep dwelling on this?  He made his choice, he chose to leave, nothing else mattered.  So why couldn't he drop this?

Because she kissed you back.

Many times he would watch in the shadows, after stumbling onto them, not wanting to alert them to his presence, as Krum kissed her and she kissed him back.  For a moment, he wanted to be Krum, have her kiss him like that, but reality would quickly come to him and he would quietly leave their presence.  But this time, she did kiss him.  She kissed him with more passion and vigor than she kissed Krum.  How far could it have gone?  He would never know.  It was Viktor Krum who had walked in on them.

~~~~Flashback~~~~

The sound of the door creaking open slammed him back into reality.  He looked into Hermione's eyes and saw fear and panic.  He slowly turned to see who had interrupted them.  It was Krum.  Bloody fucking Viktor Krum.  The look on his face was of hurt and betrayal.  Draco walked past him to leave.

"How long?" Krum asked, stopping Draco in his tracks.

He turned around and glared at Krum, but before he could answer, another presence had run into the room.

Potter.

He had told Ginny Weasley to get him.  Why did he think of his enemy?  It was a rash decision, made in a moment of panic.  Potter was the only other wizard, with power, he could think of that would come after Hermione as vigorously as he would.

~~~~End of Flashback~~~~

A smirk grew on Draco's face.

If only he had shown up a few minutes before.  Oh, he could imagine the look on Potter's face if he had walked in on him kissing Hermione.  Especially having been with her the night before.  A swell of anger and jealousy swept through Draco at that thought.  He will pay.  He reached into his robes and pulled out a small envelope.  Carefully, he took out its precious contents.  He had taken them off of Hermione's pillow earlier that morning.  He sprinkled the contents into his flask then took a swig.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dumbledore arrived to find Remus, Ron and Kingsley trying to open a door.

"We can't break the sealing charm he used," Tonks explained.

"Everyone, please stand back," Dumbledore ordered.

But before he could pull out his wand, Harry burst from the room and ran past him.  Ignoring the shouts behind him, he ran all the way to the third corridor.  But when he opened the room of requirement he found that it was empty.

"Where is she?" Harry demanded.

"I let her go.  Hogwarts isn't safe if she stays here," Dumbledore answered.

"Why?  Where did she go?"

"She's in a very difficult situation.  Please mind your temper."

"Did she tell you?  Is it true what Montgomery said?"

"I'm afraid that I cannot answer that for you, Harry.  What was discussed in that room is kept under the strictest confidence."

"Harry, what's going on?" Ginny had joined them in the hallway, having just apparated with Neville.

"Did you know that Hermione's married?  Was anyone ever going to tell me?" Harry asked accusingly.

"Harry, what are you talking about?" Ginny asked, a little bewildered.

"Who is it, huh?  Krum?  Did Krum marry her?" he was shouting and advancing on Ginny who backed away.  Neville jumped in front of her, blocking Harry.

"Harry, stop it," Ron said.

"May I remind you that you are still in a school," Dumbledore scolded.

"Harry, I have no idea what you're talking about.  Hermione isn't married.  She would've told me," Ginny said calmly.

"He's a liar, Harry.  We all know that.  Don't believe anything that Montgomery said.  He was only trying to rile you up," Ron added.

But Harry wasn't paying attention.  Instead, something outside of the window caught his eye.  It was Hermione dashing across the school grounds.  Immediately Harry took off after her.  She was almost at the school gates when he reached the outside.  He pulled out his wand and sent a stunning hex her way.  It simply bounced off her.  Harry concentrated very hard.

CRACK!!!

He reappeared right behind Hermione.  He ambushed her from behind, tackling her to the ground.  He looked behind him briefly to see the stunned look on his friends' faces who had run after him before he closed his eyes again.

CRACK!!!!

Hermione struggled against her captor when she was apparated.

"Let me go!" she strained.

She felt a wand tip against her cheek and she froze instantly.  Her heart pounded loudly in her chest.

"I have a wand, you don't.  I suggest you cooperate," warned a familiar voice.

"Harry?" Hermione turned to face him.  "How did…but…you can't apparate or disapparate on Hogwarts' grounds!  How did you do that?"

"I think I'll be the one asking questions here," he answered coolly.

Hermione looked at her surroundings.  They were in the drawing room at Grimmauld Place.

"I had a little chat with a friend of yours," he began as he circled Hermione.  "Ashton Montgomery," he clarified.

"Ashton?  Believe me, he's no friend of mine.  He's—"

"Why don't you sit and listen for a moment?"

With a glance from Harry, an armchair scooted underneath Hermione.

"He told me an interesting tidbit about your past.  One that seemed to have slipped your mind.  Well, before you lost it, anyway."

"Harry—"

"I said I'd do the talking!"

"But—" she stood up.

"I said sit down!"

"He obliviated me!"

"You have a husband!"

They both spoke at the same time.

"What?"

"What?"

Then again when they heard each other.

"I remember!  I was following Montgomery.  I had written to Remus before I left for Prague.  I was attacked in a muggle church and brought to the bell tower.  Poliakoff was waiting there.  That's when it happened.  Oh my God, Harry.  I have to warn Viktor!"
She got up to stand but Harry stopped her by grabbing her upper arm.

"Don't you mean your husband?" he said quietly.

"What?" Hermione asked incredulously.

"Viktor.  Your husband," Harry said venomously.

"I have no idea what you're talking about.  I am not married to Viktor," she said icily as she wrenched herself from his grip.

Harry didn't know whether to be relieved or even more angry at this.

"How do you even know he isn't your husband?  You can't remember if you married or not."

"I can remember perfectly fine, thank you."

It suddenly clicked in Harry's mind.

"Did you get your memory back?"

Hermione shifted uncomfortably under his gaze before she turned to glare at him.  Harry didn't waste a moment as he plunged into the depths of her mind.  But before he even scratched the surface the image of a large snake striking flashed before his eyes and he tore himself out of her mind.  The impact of it flung them both to the floor.

"Hermione," Harry said breathlessly.  "What did you do?"  His scar ached dully.

Hermione had to get out of there.  She scrambled to her feet and sprinted for the door.  Harry was too quick for her and caught her before she even took a few steps.

"Harry, please let me go," she pleaded.

"Not a chance in hell.  It was Voldemort wasn't it, who helped you?  Why?" he demanded.

She elbowed Harry in the ribs as she turned and ran towards the doors.  Harry again caught up with her and shoved her against the wall.

"Why would he help you?" he asked angrily.

Hermione moved her arms to push Harry away but he grabbed them both and pinned them above her head.  Instantly, Hermione cried out in pain.  Harry looked up at her forearm and saw it.  It glowed bright green for a second then faded away.  She hated the way he was looking at her right now, the look of betrayal on his face. 

"NOOOOO!!" Harry roared out suddenly as his had swept the contents of a nearby table to the floor.

Hermione was startled and too petrified with fear to move.  Harry overturned another table.

"HE TAKES EVERYTHING FROM ME!!"  He picked up a chair and threw it across the room.  "EVERYONE THAT I LOVE!!!"

He was destroying the room, Hermione had to put a stop to this.

"Harry.  Stop it, Harry!" she called out to him.

Harry stop mid-throw of another object and turned to look at her.  He dropped the object to the floor then walked menacingly towards her.  He stopped in front of her, glaring down at her.  Hermione quailed with fear.  Harry plunged into his robes and pulled out a wand.  Hermione froze.

"It's yours.  Take it," he said gruffly.

Hermione looked at her wand but didn't move.

"I said TAKE IT!" and he thrust the wand into her hands.  "Do what he sent you to do!  I won't put up a fight."

"Stop it Harry!" she said.

"It'll be quick and easy, Hermione," Harry said menacingly as he held out his hands.  "Look, I don't even have a wand!"

"Shut up, Harry!" she cried.

"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR HERMIONE?  It's just two little words, that's all!"

"SHUT UP!"

"DO WHAT A GOOD LITTLE DEATH EATER WOULD DO!" he was now shouting in her face.

"I SAID SHUT UP!  SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" she screamed back, her face red with tears.  She threw her wand away from her then buried her face in her hands.  She felt something hard and wooden under her chin, lifting her face.  It was Harry's wand, and a very deadly Harry holding it.

"Stupid move, Granger," he hissed.  "Never, ever throw away your wand."

Hermione stared at him, wide eyed.

"Why didn't you do it?" he asked.  "You could've killed me, captured me, done whatever with me so you could go back to your master and be praised beyond your wildest dreams."

Hermione trembled, too scared to talk.

"You are going to explain everything to me," he said in a deadly calm voice.  "Including and especially…this."  His wand lowered from her chin to the inside of her shirt pulling out the necklace.

"He came to me today.  I knew it was Voldemort even thought I couldn't remember exactly all that he'd done.  He offered to help me in exchange for one small thing.  I couldn't remember how dangerous he was Harry.  And the exchange didn't make sense to me but it seemed harmless."

"What did he want?"  Harry's voice had softened a little but he still kept his wand on her.

"He wanted me to help him get rid of you.  He said he'd been watching me for awhile and that he was just waiting for the right moment." She looked at Harry, "he thinks that I still hate you.  He thinks I want to kill you for revenge."

"Revenge?"

"Revenge for my parents, for leaving—."

"But I told you that if I'd known about your par--."

"I know, Harry.  I don't hate you and I don't want to hurt you.  But for some reason, he thinks that I still do."

Harry lowered his wand and thought a moment.  "Did you tell Dumbledore all this?"

"Yes.  Harry I shouldn't even be telling you this.  He asked me not to,"

"Why not?"

Hermione sighed deeply.  "Harry…Harry, he's asked me to spy on Voldemort."

"Spy?  Like Snape?"

"Exactly like Snape."

Harry backed up into the back of a sofa and rested against it, deep in thought.

"I believe in you Harry.  I believe that you can defeat Voldemort.  And if I can give you a fighting chance—."

"No," Harry spoke up.  "No, I won't let you do this."

"It's already been done, Harry.  Dumbledore knew you'd protest, that's why he asked me not to tell you.  It can put both of us in danger."

"I don't care.  We'll find a way."

"Harry, I've already agreed."

"Voldemort won't find you, I'll make sure of that."  Harry ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

"Harry I already made a deal with him.  He'll find me anyway."

Harry rushed to Hermione and grabbed her shoulders.  "Why, Hermione?  Why did you do it?  You know better!  You knew better!"  He shook her slightly.  "Why?  How…how could you be so stupid?"  He choked back a sob.  "You used to be one of the most brilliant witches I know.  How could you do something this stupid?" He grabbed her in a hug.

"I know, I know!  I'm so sorry!  So sorry," she cried back clutching him to her as if he could keep her from drowning. 

"What was the deal?  What deal did you make?"

Hermione slowly let go of Harry, pushing herself gently out of his embrace.  Harry gave her a confused look.  She couldn't face him.

"What was it, Hermione?" Harry asked, afraid of the answer.

"He told me to join my husband at his side," she said softly.

Harry sighed heavily.  "So it's true.  You are married, you are someone's wi…" He couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence.  He felt sick at the thought.  "Who is it?"  He didn't know why he asked, part of him didn't want to know, another part of him….

"It happened a long time ago.  We had no other choice, neither of us wanted to.  It was done in secret with only one witness, whom you obviously met.  I was to be his wife in name only and we went about our business as if it never happened.  We were to get it annulled as soon as we could.  No one knew.  Not Ginny or Neville.  Not even Viktor."

"How long?" Harry asked miserably.

"Almost four years," she said quietly.

"Four!  What?!  Why did you end it?  Why didn't…"  But Harry stopped.  He knew the answer. 

"At first we had to wait for the situation to die down.  Then some unexpected events occurred that postponed the decision.  Then recently…I…we suddenly…"

"Who is he?"  Control your temper, control your temper, control your temper, he kept telling himself.

Hermione turned around and bravely faced Harry.

"The necklace is a powerful protection charm that will protect me against other Death Eaters.  A sort of code of honor among them.  It can only be cast by a Death Eater to protect their families."

"Oh God," Harry moaned.  He felt as if the wind was knocked out of him and that the world suddenly dropped out from under his feet.  He leaned back against the wall and slid down to the ground.  His feet didn't seem to want to work anymore.  A mental image of Hermione and Malfoy together tortured him.

"Have you…have you two been…" Harry was definitely going to be sick.

"No," Hermione said firmly.  "In name only, Harry."

"What about this afternoon?  And the airport in France?  Have things changed between you?"

Hermione hung her head.  "Yes."

"Do you love him?"

"I don't know."

"Do you love me?"

"Since you saved me from the troll."

Harry didn't say anything back.  The grandfather clock downstairs began to chime the hours.

"I have to go Harry, I have to find Draco."  Hermione opened the door to leave the room but paused a moment.  "Dumbledore said we all make sacrifices in war.  If my doing this will give you even the smallest chance to defeat Voldemort, I'd do it for you in a heartbeat."  Then she closed the door.

The doors opened and Draco stepped through.  It was late and thankfully the floor was nearly deserted.  Nearly.  A cleaning witch came around the corner, her eyes widened in surprise when she saw him.

"Stupefy!" Draco whispered and the lady fell to the floor.

Draco listened for a moment for anyone who might have heard him and come running to see the commotion.  Luckily, no one came and he continued down the hall.

Hermione was in the entrance hall when she was spun around.

"Not tonight.  Don't go to him tonight," Harry said. 

Actually, it was more of an order but before Hermione could say a word he kissed her.  She wrapped her arms around him, one of her hands moving behind his neck pushing him closer to him.  His mouth didn't ask for her permission and he really didn't need it as he deepened the kiss.  Tasting her warm mouth, her delicious tongue.  One of his hands tangled in her hair, cradling her head, the other hand rested on the small of her back, pulling her closer to him.  As their kisses grew frenzied and passionate, it wasn't enough.  He pushed her roughly against the wall, his lips leaving her mouth to kiss her jaw line, then to claim her neck.  A primitive sound left Hermione's throat at the pleasure of his tongue as her nails softly scraped his scalp and the back of his neck.  Harry didn't bother with the buttons on her shirt, he just ripped it open.  The necklace was there.  He ripped it from her neck and tossed it to the floor before kissing her chest, his hand coming up to massage her breasts.

Stealthily Draco turned the corner and saw two aurors standing guard.  He needed someone to see him.  He walked out into the hallway in full view of them.  The aurors looked at him in surprise.

"What are you doing here?  You have orders not to—"

But Draco stupefied them before they could even grab their wands.

"Silencio!"

And the aurors fell silently.

Harry brought his lips back to Hermione's, plundering them as she struggled out of her blouse, then out of her bra.  Harry lifter her slightly and she wrapped her legs around his waist, pressing herself against him.  She grinded herself against his arousal as Harry let out a guttural sound.  He began to carry her to the stairs but he only made it a few steps up before laying Hermione underneath him.  Hermione grabbed at his shirt, lifting it above his head.  Harry went for her breasts, sucking them with his mouth.  Hermione moaned in pleasure as she slowly moved up the steps.  Harry's hand moved from caressing one of her breasts to the button on her jeans.  Quickly he unzipped them and desperately pulled them down taking her underwear with them.  Harry let out a groan as his fingers dove into her center.  Hermione let out a small moan as she kissed him ferociously.  Her hands moved to undo his jeans, sliding them and his boxers down his legs.  Harry and Hermione quickly kicked off their shoes to completely be rid of their clothes.  They weren't going to make it to the bedroom, Harry thought as he settled himself between her legs.  He needed her too badly.  Forcefully, he plunged himself into her.

Draco opened the door.  Fudge was sitting behind the table giving Percy Weasley last minute instructions before they could leave for the night.  Percy looked up at him.

"What are you doing here?" Percy asked haughtily.

Draco only smiled before stunning him.  He then turned his wand on a surprised Fudge.

Hermione moaned at the waves of pleasure that Harry created with each stroke within her.

"Tell me that you love me," Harry pleaded.

"I love you," she said breathily.  "I love you and only you."

"You're mine," he said.  He felt like reiterating it with every thrust into her.  "You're mine, you're mine, not his, you're mine."

"I am yours, Harry.  Only yours!" She was going to come soon.  She could feel the passion within her cresting.

Harry could feel her walls around him begin to pulsate and tighten.  He kissed her deeply one more time before she pulled away to cry out in pleasure.  With the waves of passion that he created within her, he came, spilling himself into her as he shouted out her name.

"What do you think you're doing, Harry Potter?" Fudge cried out.

Draco smiled evilly.  "Avada Kedavra!!"