UPDATED : 03May2008 – I'm seriously thinking of adding more chappies again! Well, um, not until I get to rewrite these long chapters again, then, I'd be adding. I need to get back to writing. I've missed this site so much, especially my beloved readers! Love you guys so, SO much! Better writing is to be expected when I make my comeback. BTW, haven't done anything else new to this chapter, just added this note on top. Take care y'all! Hit me a message on YM: . Emails are also welcome!

I Love to See You Cry hotsleekeyz

Chapter 24

Face of Wraith

"MIONE?!"

That was all Harry was able to say as he watched Hermione leave. If she meant her words, he should know how to forget about their past--for real.

Training came around and it was a whole lot better that time. Both Harry and Hermione made a positive outcome from what they had learned. Hermione was able to go at the same rate Harry was performing. Luckily, only a few scratches we re all they had after a tiring day. They both had to exert extra effort for their classes during the night, so the quarters was silent until midnight until the three of them, including Draco, decides to rest.

Draco was headed for his Transfiguration class when a hand took his arm. He also felt a head on his shoulder--and he knew perfectly well who it was. He tilted his head towards the person and snapped, "Pansy! Get off me!"

Pansy flashed her glittery eyes towards Draco as she sugarcoated her voice. "Dracky, what's wrong? We used to be sweet. . . you know, sharing the night together and all that. You don't seem t be interested in me anymore. Is there any problem?"

"YOU'RE the problem. If you'll excuse me, I want to be alone." Draco tried to get away from Pansy's grasp but she clung on tighter.

"Why won't we take some time off tonight?" Pansy traced Draco's neckline with the tip of her finger, intent on pulling every piece of clothing Draco was wearing, off him. She led her eyes to Draco's disgusted ones again as she said, "You looked--STRESSED." A childish giggle came off her.

"Parkinson, I have better things to do than share another dreadful night with you."

"Draco, you can run from me, but you cannot hide. . ." She flashed an all- knowing smirk. ". . .and I have one thing which will make you agree to having a heavenly night with me. . ." Pansy shot a sexy pair of eyes at Draco.

Draco smirked evilly. "Oh yeah?" He easily contorted his smirk into a nonchalant expression. "I can't think of any."

Pansy pushed Draco to the wall and was determined to pin him down there. Draco knew better than struggle. He could easily get away from her easily anyway. "You wouldn't want every one in this school to know who you are right now. . . my father's told me all about your initiation as Death Eater, turnover of position as Dark Lord. . .AND. . .you're recent marriage with the Mudblood. If you want me to take the role of Rita Skeeter around here, it's your choice. You could leave me here right now. Just like that. Simply wait for your verdict." Pansy flashed a triumphant grin, still trying to appear seductive o Draco' eyes, but to no avail.

Draco stared at her as she practically was the perfect epitome of a lunatic. He was silent for some time, obviously thinking about what Pansy had just said. If everyone would know all about him, it could cause great panic. To think that the new Dark Lord is in their midst, students would be afraid to come to school any longer.

At last, Draco was able to mutter something. "This is absolute blackmail!"

"Well, I'd do anything to win you back. . ."

"I'll kill you. . ." Draco's eyes formed two slits that appeared as if it was a snake's. he loathed greatly at Pansy's sight.

Pansy pushed herself away from Draco and she straightened her robes. "I'll take that as a yes. See you tonight Draco. . . same place."

Before they entered the classroom, Draco's eyes turned bloodshot red and a set of sharp fangs came about of his normal teeth and he flashed them threateningly at Pansy. Pansy took a small shriek and ran hurriedly inside.

Dinner had just finished and Hermione looked over Draco's side of the table only to find him not there. Ron had invited her over to the Gryffindor Dormitory for some game of Exploding Snap and she spent the time playing with her friends, thinking of Draco. She was very uneasy all those time that she stayed Gryfindor Tower, wanting nothing else but to know a hint where her husband was. It was normal for Draco to be gone out fast from dinner, must be Head Boy stuff or Quidditch meeting. . . but she felt something else was happening at that moment. . .

. . .something terribly wrong. . .

"I don't know how you were able to talk me into this again!", spat Draco grumpily as he took a seat inside Pansy's private room.

Pansy was laughing to herself, finding that she had won over Draco again. She took some wine, which was supposedly prohibited inside school premises, but then her father was able to sneak it in. she poured some in a glass and gave it to Draco.

Draco on the other hand, grabbed the glass roughly. Almost spilling its contents. "You didn't put anything else on this, I assume. . ." He looked into the glass skeptically.

"Don't worry. There's nothing in there that could poison you dead."

"If you're interested to hear, NO ONE can kill me." Draco thought that would have been enough to send Pansy peeing in her underwear in fear. "Would that be comforting to know?!" He shot a death glare at Pansy, only to get Pansy's irritatingly high-pitched giggle in return.

"You're bluffing. I've heard that line before."

Draco was losing his patience. "Off with it Pansy!. . . so I could return to my quarters immediately."

"We have all night Draco. What's to worry?"

"My wife. . . in case you have forgotten the fact I'm married."

Before Draco could have said anything more, Pansy took her first move, climbing on top of him, sitting upright on top of the disgusted young Slytherin. Pansy hungrily kissed him, and though hesitatingly, Draco kissed back.

Draco took his palm over Pansy's shoulder and kindly pushed her away. He took his glass of wine with his other hand and took everything of the content in one gulp. Pansy smiled at Draco's desperate attempt to drive himself into sanity, wishing he was just having one of his worst nightmares.

Soon enough, both of them were half-naked. Pansy wasn't showing any sign of stopping tasting every inch of Draco's perfectly pale skin. Indeed, Draco's manly scent was driving Pansy more delusional the more that she continued smelling more of him while licking it all off from Draco.

Minutes passed. Draco still kept on looking at his priceless wristwatch to check on the time. He knew well that by that time, Hermione's surely worried.

The two shifted positions every so often, with Draco's attempt to use the easiest ones so as to finish the whole silly thing faster and not to give Pansy the satisfaction she was craving for. He shagged his way in and out of the pug-faced whore while cursing at her every chance he's got. Only to make Draco a lot more furious than he already was, Pansy giggled at his –childish- antics.

And soon, they were done. Draco put on his clothes back on rather hurriedly, with his tie and robes clutched in one hand. All he wanted to do at that time was to get out of that hell and come back to his wife.

Hermione was still reading on he desk with a whole bunch of parchments scattered around. She was dumped with piles of schoolwork and Head Girl duties that night.

To her surprise, strong, manly arms enwrapped her waist from behind as she was sitting on her chair. It's Draco, she thought. Hermione felt him smell her strawberry-scented hair and gently kissed her there.

"Good evening love. . . You might need some rest now. Look at your pretty eyes, they're tired", whispered Draco as he placed his warm cheek beside Hermione's.

"Where've you been all night? I didn't see you at dinner."

Draco flinched. He knew that was coming. "I had to do an errand. I'm taking over some classes for Potions." It was true. Draco was indeed teaching some classes but he had talked it over with the Headmaster early on that day. "It's sad Professor Snape had to pass away. . . he's rather quiet young."

Hermione tried to take distance so that she could see Draco's face. "You're teaching Potions? Since when did you have enough knowledge on that? As far as I could remember, you can't manage to cut you roots without your two cronies' help", Hermione said teasingly as she managed to fix some of her things on top of her desk.

"Since Christmas vacation, I assume", replied Draco with his usual smug tone and a smirk to top it all off. He held Hermione up to stand in front of him. Draco kissed his wife gently on her forehead, which Hermione thinks, is the sweetest way that any man could kiss his partner.

Hermione's brow raised an inch higher. "So. . . being a Death Eater has its advantages then. . .", her hazel eyes staring straight into Draco's silver orbs.

"Being a Death Eater has nothing to do with it. . . being a Dark Lord does. . ." Another smirk played on Draco's reddish lips.

"You just had to say that!", snapped Hermione at once though she knew well Draco was just teasing.

"Where else could you have all these going on in me? You might even need me for Arithmancy, mind you." Draco's brow went up an inch higher just as Hermione's did.

"I could manage that myself, thankyouverymuch!", spat Hermione.

Then they broke into kisses. . . sweet, passionate locks of the lips that tangled their emotions together.

Hermione pulled away to whisper sweet nothings into Draco's ear when she noticed red marks on his neck. "Draco, I don't remember wearing lipstick today. . ." She fixed her eyes on the marks.

"Yes, you haven't", replied Draco absent-mindedly.

"Then what are these?" inquired Hermione as her index finger rubbed over Draco's unusually pale skin at the side of his neck.

Draco shot out from his trance. "Oh. . . insect bites. Time of the year." He heaved a heavy sigh. "Hermione, it's late now. Let's call it a day."

"Uh, okay."

Hermione was dead suspicious of those red marks. Deep in her mind, it was better not knowing where Draco got them--what really happened. Her intuition was working pretty well, in contrast of Trelawney's belief that Hermione does not have anything that could make her a true Seer, that is.

Days, weeks, months had passed with things going on quite well for all of them. As much as they could, Harry and Draco would avoid each other so that they wouldn't pull off another fight. They both knew Hermione was getting tired of it all.

Auror training was getting better every meeting. Hermione and Harry must have acquired a lifetime's worth of knowledge from it.

Friday came with the sun brightly singing over the school grounds. Plants started to bloom again and the trees of the Forbidden Forest had lost the magnificent snow that covered them.

It was the day before the Slytherin and Gryffindor match after the sudden turn-up of the match between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.

Excitement filled the school for the upcoming match. A big number were after the two team's Seekers who were both the school's heartthrobs.

Draco laid himself over the bed with only his boxers on. He couldn't sleep as he too, was excited for the next day's match. He made an effort not to enter the quarters at the same time that Harry would early that night, to make sure both teams would still have their Seekers for the match.

Hermione was then taking a shower after that rather stressful day. She had to roam all over the place to make sure no supporters of either Quidditch team would start a brawl along the corridors. Before lunch, she had to send a 6th year Slytherin and a 4th year Gryffindor to the infirmary after they tried to make each other look terrible with boils and acnes.

After drying herself up, Hermione opened the door and took some lazy steps towards her closet. Draco was eyeing her from a distance wondering if they could stay awake for a bit longer in the night--to have his –release- of excitement.

"Oh my fucking shit!", cursed Hermione loud enough to wake Draco from his daydream.

"My, my. . . my lovely wife does know how to curse. . .", he teased, not knowing exactly what was wrong.

When he saw that Hermione wasn't able t o move from where she was, with her eyes transfixed on the floor, he started to have a hint of panic. "What is it?" Still with no reply from Hermione, Draco stood from the bed and tried to make a run for it at Hermione's side.

"Draco. . .Draco. . ." Hermione's voice was trembling in fear.

Draco knew what was to be done. He stared at the huge snake near Hermione's feet, which also stared back at the same level of rage. In a few seconds, the serpent vanished from a green flame. Draco immediately ran to Hermione's side and took the quivering girl in his arms.

"Is it another sign?" asked Hermione with her lips quavering.

"As long as I'm here, no harm's going to fall upon you", said Draco firmly.

"What if-- what if next time, something happens again. . . and--and you're not around?"

"Hush. . ." was all Draco managed to say. He put a finger on Hermione's trembling lips, not able to answer her question. Hermione was right. what if something wrong happens again and he's not around? Harry had given up looking after her.

Draco never wanted to imagine the possibilities though horrid images forced themselves into his mind.

Hermione had recovered from her shock the next morning. Draco made sure that he walked Hermione to the Great Hall to meet her friends before he went out of the place with only a toast in his hand.

Students started to fill the posts around the Quidditch field with flags of their own house with the words, "GO GRYFFINDOR!"

The game started greatly and it had been taking them 3hours already and the Snitch kept on getting out of Harry and Draco's sight. The two had almost collided with each other about four times already, aside from the dirty tactics that they've pulled off in attempt to get the Snitch first.

It was indeed a rough game and the students were still wild on cheering. Draco kept on flying near Harry was to make sure they would catch sight of the Golden Snitch at the same time. He started to feel nervous despite the adrenaline rush inside him. That feeling was different fro the usual nervousness he' get during a match, and so he looked around for any sign of Hermione on the Gryffindor posts. He saw Ginny and Neville. . . but where was Hermione?

"Potter!", yelled Draco from a distance. Harry looked at Draco's direction. "Hermione's lost! She's supposed to be with Weasley and Longbottom, am I right?"

"Yes!" Harry looked around and sure enough Hermione was nowhere in sight. "Wait, there's the Snitch! Draco, get the Snitch NOW!"

Draco's eyes shot wide in bewilderment. "WHAT?!" He can't move from where he was flying, confused at what Harry had just said and what could have possibly happened with Hermione.

"Get the Snitch now so we could go look for her!"

"You're demented!"

The crowd started booing at them, though they couldn't hear what Harry and Draco was telling each other.

"If you get it now, we'll still have a chance of meeting in another match. You want that, now don't you?" come on Draco! We have to look for her!"

Ron flew in between them with a confused look on his face. "What's wrong with you two? If you're not getting that bloody Snitch, I'd get it myself!"

"GO!", Harry yelled.

Draco zoomed towards the Snitch with Harry making the least effort to catch up to make I seem there wasn't any foul play. Draco got the Snitch and both of them hurried down to the ground without another word. Ron was cursing loudly in the air at what just had happened, not believing that Harry could get THAT slow.

"What's going on?" asked Ron after he touched the ground as well, while Draco and Harry were getting off their broomsticks.

"Hermione's lost!" yelled Harry as he ran away from the crowd with Draco. They had to push some of the students away so that they'll get out of the way, much to shock a lot of them.

When they reached the entrance hall, they heard carriage moving away.

Still in their Quidditch uniforms, they ran out to the grounds and saw about five carriages going away. Harry noticed a crest at the rear of each carriage with an elegant curl of silver, forming the letter "M".

"I'll kill you for this Lucius!. . . I'LL KILL YOU!", yelled Draco as the carriages went out of their sight.

Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns characters, setting, etc. Except: the plot is mine.

Hey! This is the long-awaited chapter24. I did not make the scene between Draco and Pansy any detailed as it wasn't of any importance, really. If I get to work my brain muscles a bit, I will re-write that part, for all you pervy people...lol.

EEEEK! A great revelation awaits you on the next chapter. REALLY REAALY SURPRISING, but sad. You know well that Hermione was captured, so, the chapter starts there and ends with, um, some wonderful but scary magical feats on the love triangle. HAHA. Someone dies again in the next chapter, I'm not telling who anyway.

A lot more twists awaits you. . . and you'll get more and more until the last chapter, which is Chapter 38. I'm trying my best to continue typing this, I hope you all understand I've been down with a bad case of writer's block lately.

Thanks for those who've been faithfully reading this! I love your comments! Thanks!