Theodore Nott's Ring

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter etc. LIKE DUH! Why would I write fanfiction if I did?

Hermione let herself into her office that morning, and put her things down and smiled. Today was the deadline for Nott's ring, and no one had seen the ring. Some people claimed that it didn't exist, but she knew that it did.

She remembered the day that Nott came into her business, and she'd tried to hide the surprise at seeing this man in her, a Mudblood's office.

He'd gone straight to the point. "Need not look so surprised, Miss Granger. I have an engagement ring that must be made in one month for a lovely lady. Your best craftsman must make it."

"I have no craftsmen here, only craftswomen," she had said, with a professional smile curving her mouth.

"You have one craftsman whose potential is unrealized. Here is the design, the silver and two emeralds. See that he does it."

Hermione had sat in her office, and suddenly Draco came into her office.

"Why so confused?" he asked her. "I just saw Theodore Nott leave the office. Does he have anything to do with it?"

"Yes. He said that he wants a craftsman to make a ring. One whose potential is unrealized."

A look of surprise came into his eyes. "I know of him."

It was after that she'd hired him. After Mike fell sick, she knew that it was Draco. That was it.

But now, she wanted to see it. She had to see what he had made. Though, if it was anything like The Gold Dragon, she knew it would be good. She remembered that Dragon, almost warm to the touch, instead of cool gold. She wanted to see it again.

She heard the slight, soft click of the door outside. She knew it was him. She opened her door, and just as he set his things down she slipped into his office. "Good morning Draco," she said.

"Good morning Hermione," he replied and kissed her. "Why visit so early? I was just coming to greet you."

"Nott's ring. May I see it?"

He smiled, and pulled a box from his pocket, a black velvet covered box, and he handed it to her. "Here."

She took it from him, took a deep breath. Then she flipped it open, and a sharp gasp came from her.

A silver snake coiled around a band of matching silver, glaring malevolently at her out of gleaming emerald eyes. She watched it, sleek, deadly, dangerous, almost mesmerized at its power. Draco snapped in front of her eyes.

"It's cursed," he said.

He took it from her, and she peered over his shoulder at it. "It doesn't look as angry."

"It does that. Sometimes I swear that it's alive. . . ."

She nodded. "Yes." She remembered Harry's problem with speaking Parseltongue to carved snakes; he would have no problem with this one.

"What do you think of it?" he asked her, softly.

"It's magnificent," she murmured, just as softly as he did. "Sinuous . . . Sleek . . . Dangerous . . . Lethal."

Her imagination showed it becoming somewhat more forgiving, almost smiling.

"It is the essence of Slytherin. The dark side. Yet it is beautiful."

"Good. That is what I was trying to capture."

When she looked up at him, she almost shuddered at the look on his face. It was dark, brooding, like the ruthless, devious, deadly man that she knew he could be if he wanted to. She was almost frightened, almost. Not quite.

She calmed herself. "I like it," she said, quietly.

"Despite the curse?"

"Requirement. I do like it."

He nodded at her. "In a way it is like The Gold Dragon. It reflects Nott, depending on his mood. Or it will. For know, it answers to me."

She liked the choice of words. And she told him so.

"No sarcasm intended?" he asked her.

"None."

Suddenly, he smiled at her. It changed the look entirely, and it was not even like any other smile she'd ever seen from him. It was a grin, a charming grin that had her thrilling from the tips of her toes to the hair on her head. Draco unguarded. "Thank you," he said to her. "Very glad you like it. From a Gryffindor, that was surprising."

"I was a unity person," she said, replying the smile. "Here." She handed the little box to him, and it disappeared onto his person again.

"Good. And here is a kiss for the morning," she said, and tiptoed and kissed him, long, hot, and sensual. He picked her up so that she reached his height, and continued to kiss her. When he put her down, she smiled.

"Well done," she said, and he grinned again.

"I'm glad you like it. Now, what was I doing? Oh yes," he said, "We have to go and talk to Laura."

She raised her eyebrow.

"My paycheck, of course."

She nodded. "Of course. But that would come later. Why are you visiting Laura?"

"Are you getting jealous?" he asked, with a smirk.

She snorted. "No."

"Come," and he Apparated outside of the door of the office.

He knocked on the door, hard. There was no answer. He sighed. Then he opened the door.

Hermione raised her eyebrows in sudden realization. "You have to break up the morning snog session, don't you?"

He nodded. "Yes." Then, he said, "Kevyn! Laura! Snap out of it."

Laura reluctantly let go of Kevyn. "Good morning, Draco, Hermione," she said, in a soft voice.

"Likewise," remarked Kevyn. Hermione smiled.

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Draco was in the room when the knock on the door came, but he didn't bother to Apparate. Instead, he stood behind Hermione, not imposing, but lounging.

Theodore Nott opened the door and stepped in, a smile on his thin face. He was no longer rat like, but still thin. It was hard to believe that, like Draco, he had enormous power in the wizarding world, not for his money, but for his mere existence.

"Good morning, Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy."

Hermione inclined her head graciously, and Draco did not move a muscle. Nott smiled; he was after all, accustomed to him. He sat in the chair, and he got straight to the point.

"So. You found your master craftsman, didn't you." It was not a question.

"Yes, I did. Thank you," she replied. "Here."

She handed him the small box on the table, and he opened it. A smirk spread across his face, and he looked up at Malfoy. His eyebrow twitched in recognition. "It is well made," commented Nott. "Thank you, Miss Granger."

He pulled out a sheaf of Muggle paper money. "Here."

Hermione nodded, sifted through it, and smiled. "It was a pleasure, Mr. Nott."

"Likewise Miss Granger."

"Nott," said Draco, before he got up to leave, "A word. In my office."

A curt nod was given to his request, and Nott left first.

Draco turned to Hermione, and said "I'll be over at Le Café in a minute, alright?"

She nodded. "See you."

Malfoy followed Theodore into the green and silver office, and propped on the desk. "So, Nott, how have things been with you?"

"No need for chitchat, what is with you and Granger?"

The infamous eyebrow arched in question. "What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean. You're stuck on her."

Draco did not snort, but merely smiled. "So what if I am?"

Nott laughed. "Finally. A woman who controls you."

"It hasn't happened yet."

"But it will, won't it?"

"And what makes you think that?"

Nott sighed, exasperatedly. "I know you too well for the mind games, Draco, and you're stuck on her. Two things. One, you should know that I kept tabs on you."

"It was quite obvious."

"Two, the mere way that you look at her, or talk to her, or anything, is indication enough. You've fallen hard. She has you wrapped around her little finger."

Malfoy did snort this time. "I doubt it very highly."

Theodore nodded. "You can if you want, but that doesn't change my opinion . . . I expect to attend the wedding."

"Speaking of marriage, who are you marrying?" asked Draco, evading the question.

"That girl that was in the year below us." He gave a name.

"Oh yes, her. She was always a looker."

Nott nodded. "Well, Draco Malfoy, it has been nice meeting once again with one of the most notorious Slytherins—most notorious students—that Hogwarts has ever seen. I bid you good bye, although . . . Expect to see an interesting article in either Witch Weekly or the Daily Prophet next week."

The incline of Draco's head implied the question, but he said, "Well, Theodore Nott, it has been nice meeting with you once again. Good afternoon. I have a lunch date with a certain Miss Granger that has to be kept. I will keep in touch."

Theodore Nott nodded, and walked out of the door.

Draco tidied everything in the room with a sweep of his wand, and again, remembered Nott's words. She has you wrapped around her little finger.

He doubted that highly.

But then again, was it such a bad place to be?

He set off across the road, and made a mental note to read the Daily Prophet, and ugh Witch Weekly, everyday next week.

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Okay, this was not one of my best chapters at all. I'm not proud of it, but I am recovering from writer's block, and I think the next chapter will be better.

So here are responses:

Sunny June 46: At first I was in two minds whether or not your review was a positive one, but when I reread it appeared to be positive, but this story will have fluff. I am a bit of a fluff lover. :)

Athena Linborn: Yes, I know that Ginny's name is Ginevra. But I'd already written the chapter before I found out, and I couldn't be bothered to change it. However, I think that she used the Vs to confuse Draco :) Glad you like the chappie.

Strutters mama: THANK YOU! I'm glad you think so . . . you really are hooked? Cool. And yeah, it is another interesting discussion. I think though, that unless something happens, she won't. That's one of my Canon ships.

Angelic Night Goddess: (Cackles, smiles evilly) oh yeah . . . that chapter was the second one I wrote . . . .:D

Everyone who reviewed and said they loved the story: THANK YOU! HUGGLES!