Disclaimer: In Chapter One
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Chapter 10: Having a Field Day
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Hermione had spent the early morning hours pouring over the books and still nothing. She couldn't give up hope, but it seemed that there was nothing in them at all to help her cure Draco.
The rational part of her, which was usually the large and in charge part of her brain, was saying "Hermione IF there was a cure for The Veela Inheritance then someone would have mentioned it before now and you wouldn't be here scouring obscure reference books." She had to be honest, in her mind, healing him was secondary to freeing herself. At this point it wouldn't do to pretend to having overly altruistic reasons. She was working purely on instinct and panic, her whole life could change. She didn't want her whole life to change.
In the past people had put great stock in the studies and theories of Hermione Granger, this was not one of those times however. This was the most hopeless of cases. Most people would have just given in, placed themselves on the alter of Draco Malfoy like a sacrificial lamb and tried to make the best of it. Hermione was not most people.
This was her sixth time to read the passage and it still said exactly what it seemed to say the first time. '...once the mate is designated there is no choice but for the match to go forward." No matter how many times and ways Hermione tried to read the passage it just refused to change into anything that even resembled that her being Draco's mate was either OPTIONAL or a decision.
She slammed the book shut and rubbed the heal of her hand into her eyes. They were burning and her head was starting to ache. Just like Draco Malfoy to turn something enjoyable like study into torture. It was clearly all his fault! How dare he CHOOSE her as his mate? How dare he? Dare? Maybe not his choice, but still he could have done the right thing and just left her alone and gone off and died, like a gentleman...Ok...she didn't want him to die, per se. If he could just maybe drop off the face of the Wizarding world and she never had to see him again, that would be ok too.
Hermione recognized the direction of her thoughts as not exactly helpful and certainly not nice. She shook her head and laughed at how insane this whole thing was making her. She stood and stretched, it wouldn't help to miss breakfast. She placed the book back on the shelf and left the library.
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So far that morning Draco had almost died three times and it wasn't even time for breakfast, but he had learned something interesting from one of his would be assassins/matchmakers. It seemed that the student body was finally aware of who his mate was. If he had been able to smile past his swollen lips he would have.
A little unwanted help from unlikely sources could help. If it didn't KILL him first. The bludger seemed to have been step one in "bring Draco to the brink of death, and HOPE Hermione lifts her head from behind her book and notices."
Granted he didn't see this as the best laid of plans, and that wasn't even because he couldn't feel his left leg. It was simply that Hermione was not the sort to be taken in by displays of that nature. She didn't do well with subtleties and in any case he feared if they succeeded, his death wouldn't exactly send Hermione into widow's mourning! Probably throw a party, more likely.
So this left him pretty much where he was before, but now he had to watch over his shoulder far more carefully. He groaned at the thought and felt a searing fire of agony rush across his bruised throat. One more small sigh and he turned and hobbled away toward the infirmary.
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Someone was very interested in all the goings on in the castle that morning. It was as though his fondest dream and desires had come true. Students running amuck trying to kill off staff members. Well one staff member, which seemed like a good start. It didn't matter much to him the cause of all this "helpful" behavior. He didn't question it, nor care.
He smiled as he floated along.
Peeves was an opportunist, and this included finding fun when there was fun to be had.
No, he hadn't had a better day in centuries. Of course the Headmaster would probably stick his tall pointy hat into it and things wouldn't remain interesting for very long. It was best Peeves helped out now while he still had the chance.
Yes helping was really what Peeves liked to do most.
Helping!
Helping!
Helping!
He sped down the hall and popped through the wall disappearing. Only one thought in his nasty little mind.
Helping Draco Malfoy, right into the grave, perhaps?
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Professor Snape had noticed one thing on his way to the Great Hall for breakfast, things weren't as perfect as he had hoped.
While the students were no longer speculating about him, he still had to hear them talking about how to get Hermione and Draco together. Listening to their annoying little plans would drive him to distraction he feared. It was now clear that until Draco Malfoy had gotten his mate and was 'happy' Severus Snape was still not going to be left in peace. Frankly he was tired of all the tittle tattle!
There were even students saying that Draco Malfoy was "more frightening" than he, Severus Snape, was. Ha, that would NOT do. Not do at all. He had a reputation to uphold, and no love sick Veela was going to steal his thunder.
He replaced the scowl on his face to one he considered more threatening and moved his way through the halls, there were plots and schemes that needed his attention. Back to the list.
Why was everything always up to him?
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During his first class Draco heard a tapping on his window. Taking time out of his assigning 3 feet of equations to his fourth year students he turned to find that there was an owl waiting patiently on the sill outside. An owl? During class time? This set him in motion, generally no owls were employed during class time unless it was from his family or an emergency.
He moved quickly across the room and opened the window. The owl hopped inside and held out its leg. Draco removed the note and with a pat to the owl, opened the letter and read.
A smile spread across his face. A smile that made the students in his class cringe in fear momentarily. A smile could indicate anything, it could mean he had evil plans to assign more work than they could possibly do and then take points when it wasn't completed. (It could mean that he was going to start foaming at the mouth like an insane person.) Smiling never boded well for his students these days.
Draco put the letter inside the breast pocket on the inside of his robes and patted it. Turning back to his class he assigned them a chapter of silent reading and went to his desk to think.
The students continued to tremble in fear, and kept as quiet as possible. There was no need to draw undue attention upon themselves.
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Hermione had gotten three letters during breakfast but since every single eye in the entire great hall was on her, she had decided to wait until she was alone to read them.
Hermione,
I have tried on numerous occasions to change your mind about what you are doing. I have attempted to remind you that you have a contract. You have obligations, but you refused to listen and now I have no choice but to take legal action. You will be receiving a letter from my attorney outlining your breach of contract and the steps I am going to have to take to repair the damage you have done to my reputation.
I had thought that our professional business arrangement would be one that led to great things for both of us. I am sadly dismayed by your actions. Do not attempt to make contact with me personally, I have no interest in speaking with you again, I have done all I can. Any further communication will be handled through my legal department.
Theodosia Gurgling
The smile was wiped from Hermione's face. Just what she needed more complications.
As she suspected there was a letter from her attorney, attached, letting her know that he had been contacted about her breach of contract. He had outlined her legal options. There were very few. She was going to owe her 'former' manager a great deal of reparation. Not that her bank account wasn't large enough to handle it, but that wasn't the point. Hermione Granger was a person of her word, she followed through with her obligations. The damage to her reputation was far more important than the money she would have to spend.
She sighed then opened the small scrolls that the last two owls had brought .
Hermione,
Meet me in the South Tower room 10:00 tonight! We need to talk.
Ginny
She quickly read the second scroll as well.
Miss Granger,
I must speak with you as soon as possible, this is urgent. Meet me tonight 10:00 in the South Tower. Come alone. Tell no one.
Your Friend,
Ginny Lupin
A bit formal and why all the secrecy? Hermione read both again. A bit odd.
Then a thought occurred, maybe it was about Ginny and Remus's marriage, Ginny had tried to make him jealous after all. Maybe her friend was in trouble. Hermione's own problems could just be set aside for one night, to help her friend. If Ginny wanted to meet, the least Hermione could do would be to go and talk to her.
Some people might think she had no honor, or that she couldn't be trusted to keep her word, but she would not shirk her obligations of friendship!
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The halls were empty and dark and if Remus hadn't had his preternatural vision he never would have noticed Ginny hurrying down the corridor. He called out to her, but she seemed intent upon her destination and didn't even look around. Where was she going at this hour? It was almost quarter past ten.
She had left the Great Hall for their rroms long before he started his curfew enforcing stroll through the halls. In fact she had said her head was aching and that she was going to have a long soak and then get into bed, for an early night. Yet here she was.
This deserved further investigation. He turned the corner and could see his wife's receding back. His keen eyesight picked out the furtiveness of her movements even in the dark. She was obviously doing something she oughtn't. More than likely she was involving herself in Draco and Hermione's romance again.
He saw Ginny's footsteps quicken and his heartbeat did the same. The thrill of a chase started his blood to pounding in his ears.
He looked around, seeing there was no one nearby he hurried his steps. Anyone watching his long even strides would have known immediately that Remus Lupin was not a normal man, he moved like what he was, a child of the moon and night. Smooth strides carried him down the corridor at a unnatural pace.
So intent was she, on her stealthy movements, Ginny didn't notice her husband until it was too late.
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Ginny hadn't heard a sound, so when she found herself suddenly propelled against the wall by a large force, she stopped breathing for a moment. Wriggling in the tight grasp trying to free herself from the iron grip on her upper arms, seemed like a futile thing. There didn't appear a way to get free. The scream rose in her throat and then died as warm lips covered her own.
Remus? Her mind instantly recognized his warmth and the feel of his hands on her body. She started to sink into his embrace and then remembered she had things to do. Besides what did he think he was doing scaring her half to death? She pushed her hands against his shoulders and turned her head to the side.
"Remus." She started.
His raised his eyes to her, the pupils dilated, and a thrill ran through her.
"Ginny..." He growled, and nuzzled her neck nipping slightly at the skin behind her ear.
At the feel of his mouth on her neck she could feel her resolve slipping, just a few minutes couldn't hurt. She pulled his head up and drew their lips together again.
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Hermione opened the thick door to the South Tower, leaving it slightly ajar behind her she moved into the room looking around. Why had Ginny wanted to meet her here of all places? Granted it was quiet and they wouldn't be bothered, but they could just as easily have met in Hermione's own room. It would have been, at least, warmer if nothing else. She wished she had worn a cloak over her robes.
The moonlight streamed in through the series of windows high up along one wall, filling the room with light and shadow. She roamed around the empty room waiting for Ginny.
"So, you really did come, I didn't think you would." Draco sounded astonished, but no more than Hermione herself.
She whirled around and saw him standing in the half light, the moon shining off his hair. He was beautiful. The thought came unbidden to her mind. She tried to shake it away, but was not capable of doing anything but stand and stare at him. It was rare that Hermione was at a loss for words.
She could feel the pull that indicated the Veela bond between them was active. Then as if drawn to her by an ever tightening thread, Draco came closer. The rustle of his robes as he walked became the only noise in the room. Hermione wasn't even sure she was still breathing.
Draco stopped a few feet from her and smiled in disbelief.
"I thought maybe it was a joke, when I got your note." He put his hand out toward her.
Hermione went to him as if compelled. It was certainly not a conscious decision on her part. One moment she was apart from him the next her hand was held tightly in his. It wasn't until he pressed his lips to her palm that she realized what he had said.
"Wha...what note?" She stuttered, then cleared her throat.
"The note that..." Draco's words trailed of with the slamming of the door behind him.
Hermione jumped and broke contact with him. That noise seemed to break the spell in the room. The moon glow still streamed in, highlighting Draco perfectly as it had moments ago, but Hermione felt a sudden sick feeling in her stomach. What had she been thinking.
She wiped her hand on her robe as if to remove his very touch from her. Why was he here? She had come to meet Ginny.
"What are you doing here Draco?"
He searched her face with his eyes, looking at her as if he hadn't a clue what she was asking. How hard was the question?
"Well?" She put her hands on her hips.
"I got your note." He touched the breast pocket of his robe.
"What note? I was supposed to be waiting for Ginny, but it looks as though she isn't going to show up." Hermione walked toward the door to leave.
"You didn't send me a note?" Draco took her arm as she passed by, and the usual shiver rushed between them.
Hermione felt trapped, she needed out. She shrugged out of his grasp and took the door handle.
It was locked.
"Alohomora" She waved her wand, and tried the door again. No response, it was still locked.
"This is not funny Draco. Let me out." She turned to face him.
"What?" He walked past her to the door and tried the handle as well.
"I don't understand." He turned a confused face to her, but Hermione was not buying it.
"Nice try Draco, sort of cliche though don't you think. Locked in a room together. What's next? The big seduction scene?"
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Draco was truly baffled, seduction scene? What seduction scene? He had been holding himself back for weeks, if he had wanted to unleash his attractions on her he could have and would have long ago. (Of course if he had thought that sort of tack would work with Hermione in the long run he would have had no compunction about doing that very thing.)
He had been dancing around her objections for weeks, worrying himself sick. Taking the blasted suppression tincture that Ginny brewed for him. Yet it now appeared that Hermione was casting doubt on his behavior.
The prideful part of Draco started to rise in anger at her accusations.
"Hermione I have not idea what you are talking about, I have YOUR note right here in my pocket. The note YOU sent me, the note that told ME to meet you here at 10:00." he glared back at her.
"I didn't write any note to YOU, but it seems sort of odd to me that we both end up in the South Tower." She trailed off and he picked up the implication right enough.
"Don't aim your suspicions in my direction. With your rotten temper the very last thing I would want is to be trapped with you for any length of time." He turned back to the door and attempted a few more spells to see if he could get them out.
It took him a few minutes to finally give up and realize that they were in there without hope of getting out until the person who locked them in, opened the door again.
"Hmph!" Draco put his wand in his robe pocket and started pacing around the room.
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Hermione watched him pace, back and forth between the streaming moonlight and shadows. His presence filled the room with a sharp tingle of power, and she decided very suddenly that there was no way she could spend an entire night here with him, alone.
With a flurry of robes she pushed herself off from the wall and headed for the door again.
"Alohomora!" She waved her wand, then tried the door again.
"Alohomora! Aloho..."
"I already tried that." Came Draco's mocking voice.
Hermione put her wand away and moved away from the door, looking at it speculatively.
"Help! Let us out!" She pounded her fists on the door.
"Bloody hell Granger! Calm down."
Hermione leaned against the door for a moment.
"There is no way I can stay here all night with you." Hermione whispered into the wood of the door.
"Well it doesn't look as if we are going to have much choice, and you going mental isn't going to help the situation."
Hermione turned to see Draco seated on a very uncomfortable looking wooden bench. Which also happened to be the only thing in the entire room, on which to sit. The cold stone floor didn't exactly look inviting, but then neither did sitting next to Draco. Hermione stood weighing her options, trying to ignore Draco's pointed gaze.
"I didn't GO mental. I was merely trying to raise someone's attention." Silence reigned again for a few minutes, Hermione determined to look everywhere but at him.
"For Merlin's sake Granger, come sit down." He drew out her last name in a sardonic tone, and patted the seat next to him.
Hermione still didn't say a word, but reluctantly flounced over and sat down.
They sat for a few minutes and Hermione could feel the cold sinking through her clothing, right into her very bones it seemed. She wished again that she had brought a warm cloak.
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Draco could feel Hermione next to him shivering.
An evil little imp in his mind started calling for him to OFFER to warm her up. Great way to get his face slapped more likely, and he remembered from his youth that she could pack quite a punch when she wanted. The best he could offer would be his casual outer robe which would leave him wearing only his trousers, socks and shoes. Something told him Hermione would rather die of hypothermia than see him even partially undressed.
Time seemed to drag as the minutes ticked away. For a while Draco just sat and soaked in his nearness to Hermione, feeling her arm displace the air next to his own arm when she moved. Smelling the scent of her that wafted over him. It was all very exciting to his Veela side, and it remained exciting for a few minutes, but now he was bored. It wasn't enough just to soak in her presence, he wanted to...he let that thought trail away. He sighed.
If he couldn't be doing what he really wanted he may as well at least try to talk to her.
"So, here we are." Oh yes brilliant conversational start there Draco.
Hermione looked at him.
"Wonder how long we are going to be stuck?" He tried again.
Hermione blinked very slowly and continued to look at him.
"Cold tonight, huh?" Why did fighting always work better than this small talk with Hermione?
He sighed and opened his mouth to speak again, but was stopped when Hermione reached over and placed her hand over his mouth. He didn't think she had meant it as anything more than to forestall him from saying anything else so stupid, but when her bare skin touched his that familiar rush of electricity surged upward and engulfed them.
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Remus stopped kissing Ginny and grabbed her hand, pulling her along toward their rooms. Ginny followed him for a few yards before her head cleared enough to remember what she had been doing prior to standing in a darkened corridor snogging her husband's face off like a teenager.
Blast she had already been late when he had waylaid her.
It took a few moments more for Remus to notice that she was struggling to get loose and not hurrying to get to their bed.
He stopped suddenly and turned to her.
"What?"
Ginny searched her brain for some excuse to give her amorous husband, when all she really wanted to do was slip back into his arms. There was a good chance that Draco and Hermione would have come and gone by now. She didn't imagine they would have stayed around long enough to wait for her to lock them in. So maybe she shouldn't be wasting her time by haring all over the castle. Maybe she should just do what her body was screaming for her to do.
"Ginny!" Remus had taken her by the shoulders and was shaking her lightly to draw her out of her inner struggle. She groaned, if only his hands on her arms didn't feel so good, she could think more clearly.
"Remus!" She said more loudly than necessary, given how close they were standing.
He snorted out a chuckle, fully aware of how she was feeling.
"Yes? Ginny?" He leaned in, and breathed in her ear. Desire curled itself in her chest. Damn, her loyal personality, if she hadn't promised herself to help her friends she could be halfway back to her rooms by now. Damn, and Blast!
"Don't you have your rounds to make?" Ginny blurted out before she lost her nerve.
"My rounds?" Remus dropped his hands from her arms, "Blast! You're right."
Remus drew back and pushed his hands through the hair in which only moments ago her fingers had been tangled.
"That's alright, I will just go and wait for you." She turned a saucy look at him and pushed him down the hall.
"Hurry!" She smiled and waited until he turned the corner before she took off running toward the South Tower.
"Don't let me be too late, don't let me be too late!" She said as she ran along.
It was lucky that she didn't encounter any students or any others of the staff in her headlong dash through the castle.
This plan just had to work. She must get Draco and Hermione together, if there was to be any peace at all.
It was all up to her!
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TBC
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