Seeds of Seduction

Chapter 22: Meetings

Draco lay peacefully on the plush sofa in his living room. His tired and strained face showed trails of tears down his cheeks. His blond hair falling over his forehead, he slept peacefully. His body was lying flat the sofa and his left arm was over the arm of the sofa. His right hand was on his stomach, resting gently. His chest rose and fell as he inhaled and exhaled.

Hermione smiled lovingly and brushed a strand of blond hair out of his eyes as he slept. She was seated behind Draco. He back was against the back of the leather sofa. From she sat near, his face, she could see the emotions flitting every once and a while across his face. She was dressed in a black and red nightie. It went down to her kneecaps and was spaghetti straps. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders softly in hazel waves.

Hermione's smile faded away as she ran a finger over a tear trail. She needed to know what had been so urgent that he had called for her immediately. She hoped that everything in his life was all right.

Her hazel eyes filled with tears as she remembered her friend's entrance at Grimmauld Place.

Flashback

Hermione skipped up the path to the Order of the Phoenix headquarters a. Small grains of snow caught in her hair. Laughing, Hermione opened the door to the house and stepped in the dark hall. Locking the door behind her, Hermione turned around and came face to face with Harry.

"Hey Hermione," said Harry coming in, "Can we please talk to you?"

"Sure," said Hermione slowly and walking slowly towards them.

Harry left Hermione into the room and then closed the door behind them. Ginny was sitting with Ron at a circular table.

"Sit down," said Harry drawing a chair out.

"What it is?" asked Hermione not moving.

"Sit," said Ron kicking the chair towards Hermione.

Shooting them wary glances, Hermione seated herself on the dark wooden chair.

"Look Hermione," started Harry, "The mission is over now."

"Over?" asked Hermione.

"Yes," said Harry, "Severus just informed us today that Draco would only pretend to be in love with you for a month and a half. There's only a week left Hermione. The mission is over."

"Meaning?" breathed Hermione.

"You can only see Draco once more," said Harry, "At that meeting you need to tell him to come to a specific place. Ron, Ginny, and I will be there as well as you. It will be at this time that we will tell Malfoy that he has been deceived."

"When will that be?" asked Hermione faintly.

"Next week, January the 18th."

"But.."

"No buts Hermione," said Ron loudly standing up, "We need to hurt Malfoy before he lets you know that he used you. He used you as well Hermione; he DOES NOT love you like he claims. Don't let that blind you."

Hermione opened her mouth ready to protest but shut it at the look from Harry.

"It doesn't look like I have a choice," muttered Hermione turning around, "Very well."

Hermione practically fled from the room. As she shut the door, the tears began to fall. She hadn't realized how much she had come to enjoy these dates with Draco. She hadn't come to realize how wholesome and enlightening her conversations with Draco were. She hadn't realized how much she had gotten attached to his presence. Walking slowly up the stairs, Hermione walked up the stairs and towards her room.

But whom was she fooling? Draco didn't care for her the way she had grown to care for him. All those sweet talks, the presents, to concern were just acts. He was only playing sweet because Lord Voldemort wanted information. He would and could never love her. It was be against his moral and social code. It was impossible for a Death Eater to fall in love with an Auror.

Her relationship with Draco would have to bow before the burden of duty. She knew that when she signed up to be an Auror, she would need to emotional capacity to get through it. This was her test; she needed to pass. She would have to let him go.

She had reached her room now. Sighing, overcome with exhaustion, she took of her muddy and sand strewn dress and threw it on the floor. Pulling on a black and red silky nightie, she turned towards the fireplace to light a fire. Then she saw it. She saw Draco's owl sitting patiently next to the dying embers. Eyes wide, she rushed over and snatched the letter.

Hermione. I need you now.

Adrenaline coursed through her veins. What had happened? Was Draco alright? Scrambling up, she grabbed her black velvet trench coat and slipped on her black flip-flops. The letter crushed in her fist, she ran. Bolting out to door, she practically flew down the steps and past a surprised Ginny. Throwing open the door, she ran out and shouted "Malfoy Manor."

Hermione gasped as he bare skin hit the hard ice. Immediately cuts forming an blood welled up but she ignored it as she ran up the snow covered walkway to Draco's house. Her feet left traces of red in the snow as the snow hit her with every step she took. Hermione arrived at the door, her face flushed and her chest heaving.

"No," screamed Hermione as she pulled on the locked door.

Throwing the letter on the ground in front of the door, she ran around the house and to a window. Peering through she could see his frame on the sofa. Grasping the ledge of the window, she threw it open and climbed in. She swore as the sharp ledge cut her leg. Ignoring the thick stream of blood on her leg, she ran over to Draco.

Ends Flashback

Tears slipped down Hermione's face as she stared into the distance. She was leaning back against the sofa away from Draco and her hands were clenched on the cloth. Draco wrinkled his face as her salty tears hit his face. Slowly, he opened his eyes. His face broke into a small smile as he beheld his angel sitting next to him. He frowned as he noticed the trail of tears down her cheeks. Closing her eyes, Hermione leaned against the sofa and stared at the ceiling. Draco quietly propped himself on his elbows and stifled a gasp as he noticed the blood trails on his arms, sofa, and carpet. Glancing at her legs, he stared at the web of cuts on her feet and the long thick deep cut on her leg.

Slowly, he got up and supported by his knees kissed her. Hermione smiled as she opened her eyes and threw her arms around him. Draco was jolted by this force and fell on the carpet Hermione on top of him.

"You had me so worried," sobbed Hermione incoherently into his shirt. "Don't ever do that again!"

Draco held her trembling body close to him and steadily she calmed down. Leaning back, Hermione smiled as he kissed her tears and cheeks. She winced as his hand ran over her leg. Draco broke away and took her leg in his. Tracing a finger over the cut, he grabbed his wand and lovingly tapped each scratch until it was no longer visible.

. & .

Severus fell to the hard cold floor yelling his body aching. Every limb was on fire and any second he was sure his bones would give away. Yelling, he thrashed hoping and praying for the pain to leave him.

"What is that you say?" hissed the tall figure above him.

Severus lay on the floor blood dripping from his nose. Gasping for breath, he lay resting his aching muscles.

"You advise my to keep Draco Malfoy as my servant?" seethed the voice.

"My lord," gasped Severus, "What good would it be to let him go? He'll side with the Order. He knows too many of our secrets; he's helped us immensely by diminishing the Order by more than 25. What's the benefit of kicking him out?"

"I shall have him killed," said the Lord coldly his nostrils flaring.

"That is no good," panted Severus, "None can match the bravery or skill with those of Draco's. He will kill anyone that you send. Lucius Malfoy himself has trained him. You're doing your own party harm by sending them to unnecessary deaths. "

"But shall he serve me now that he knows the death of his mother?"

"He shall," promised Severus his voice cracking, "I know Draco. I'll convince him to. Draco's a brave man with the emotional capacity. "

"Very well Severus," said Voldemort, "You know that I trust you because you have done me many years of great service."

Severus grasped the ends of the table and stood up. Shaking, he kissed his master's feet and then headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" snapped Voldemort.

"To talk to Draco," replied Severus his voice strained. "Every second is precious. If we leave it for too long than perhaps he shall have sided against us."

. & .

It had grown dark. The sun had set and the black sky was dotted with millions of stars. A light fall of snow was falling gently on the perfectly manicured lawns and sidewalks. Hermione snuggled closer to Draco under the blanket their was wrapped in front of the crackling fire. Draco was sitting cross-legged and Hermione was perched between his folded legs. Her back was against his chest and his arms were wrapped around her waist. His left hand was playing with the skin on her leg sending shivers up her spine.

Hermione sniffled as she steadied herself. Draco kissed her cheek and Hermione relaxed back into his embrace. She had gone into another fit of tears after Draco had told her that Voldemort had murdered his mother indirectly.

Hermione took a deep breath. It was time.

"Draco," said Hermione softly, "Do you want to meet me at the Ministry next week?"

Even as she asked the innocent question, her heart was telling her to stop. Tears threatened as she blurted the question before she dissuaded herself.

"Sure," said Draco.

Hermione broke down. It was official. This would be the last time she would ever see Draco again. It would be the last time; she would be allowed to sit amicably with him side by side. It would be the very last time; she would kiss him, or be held in his muscular arms, which protected her. This moment would be the last time, she would hear his joys, his sorrows, share his tears, his laughs.

"What happened?" asked Draco horrified as Hermione collapsed in his lap.

Hermione turned around and collapsed against him sobs racking her body. She cried into his chest, his fists beating his hating him for agreeing to meet him, hating him for being so sweet and nice, hating him for making her care for him. Stunned, Draco grabbed her fists and put them behind her back. Kissing her head, he held her until her body stopped shaking.

Lifting her up, Draco carried her to his bedroom where he put her on his bed. He turned around but was stopped by her hand on his arm.

"Draco," she whispered her voice pleading, "Don't leave me."

His heart broke at the tone of her voice. He had never seen her so broken, so helpless. Wordlessly, he pulled off his shirt and pants and climbed next to her. Hermione snuggled close to him. Her eyes sparkling, she kissed him and then pulled away. Kissing him with more passion, she pulled him on top of her. Her hands roamed his back and chest as she consummated the kiss with a passion that Draco had never seen before. Hermione held Draco close to her as he kissed down her neck and shoulders, his hands running up her legs. She needed him close to her. She needed to make love to him before she would leave him forever.

And though Hermione didn't realize it, she needed him in her life.

A/N: Hi! God thanks so much for ALL the reviews. I really appreciate them! Anyways, here's the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it! I'm so sorry for the delay! I watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which was amazing on Friday and was extremely busy studying. I have a small announcement to make: my finals are coming in a very short time. I have only 3 weeks to master my chemistry AP material which, it seems like God does not want me to get an A in! But hopefully, with the next 2 tests and our final I'll bring it up but I'll have a lot of work to do. Chapters will be updated less frequently. I hope that I can post every Friday but it may become extremely difficult to do so. I do hope that y'all stick with my story as the end is coming. I have several different way of ending this story and I shall post my poll at the end of chapter 23,24, or 25.

Next chapter: She realizes how much she's beginning to like Draco, her dwindling reaction to Ron being single, she realizes that she's falling in love with Draco, ominous feeling about the future.