Chapter 36

He was awoken by small hands shaking him. He reached out blindly and caught one. And then he opened his eyes and blinked until a very familiar silhouette came into view.

"Can I climb in?"

"Of course." It was an automatic response, but then the reality if the situation caught up with him and he swallowed. "Mia, we're going to be in big trouble if you're caught here."

But she was already climbing onto the bed and crawling under the covers and then she practically threw herself at him. He caught her arms but prevented their bodies from coming into full contact.

"What's wrong?" She asked; he couldn't made out the details of her face in the dark but he could tell she was looking around frantically as if checking for some unseen danger.

"Nothing, at least nothing like you're worried about. It's just that I'm a teenage boy and my girlfriend- my betrothed," he couldn't help but add, he was feeling very smug about that- "just got into bed with me. We have a situation arising."

She was quiet for a minute and then she burst out laughing. "Did you mean to put it like that?"

He felt his face heat. The double entendre had been unintentional and now felt quite mortifying.

"Draco," she froze. "I signed a contract today agreeing to one day become your wife. As in, you'll be my husband. I know what those terms mean. I'm aware that you have a penis and that you probably have an erection right now. In fact, on several occasions I've actually felt it." She said that last part in a comical whisper. "Actually, I'm more than a little insulted you don't remember those occasions," she added.

At first he was a little dumbfounded by the joking quality in her voice. But then he smiled to himself and began to chuckle, finally seeing the humor in the situation. They'd had frank discussions about sex, determined not to be like their peers who seemed content to fumble around in the dark until they figured out what felt good, rather than face the possible embarrassment of simply talking. But there wasn't anything he couldn't talk about with Hermione and he'd risk any embarrassment against the smallest possibility she wouldn't enjoy anything they did together anyway.

Between that and some of the exploring they'd done with each other, he probably did seem a little ridiculous to her right now. But this situation felt different- her in his bed at Malfoy Manor on the night after they'd signed their betrothal contract- it felt intimate and he didn't want to treat it casually.

"I think you might be overestimating my willpower," he told her.

"Oh please," she scoffed, "your magic would strangle you before it let you do something I was uncomfortable with."

"But that's the thing, love, I think we both know you wouldn't be uncomfortable, but I also think anything that happened here tonight you would regret later because we said we weren't going to sneak around under my parents' roof."

That seemed to give her pause.

"Would it help if I told you that your mother knows I'm here?" She eventually asked.

"Would mentioning my mother help get rid of my erection, yes, yes it would," he quipped.

She giggled and then reached above her head to grab a pillow and placed it between their lower bodies. "There, is that better? Will you at least touch me now?"

He held out his arms and she scooted into them, tangling their feet together, their bodies somewhat awkwardly bent around the barrier of one of his goose down pillows which was squashed between them.

"Now, do you want to tell me why Mother's given you permission to sleep in here and why you waited until the middle of the night to come in?"

"It's not that late," she protested. "Anyway, we've been up talking." But Draco wasn't particularly reassured when she took a fortifying breath. "She said I could spend the night with you. I want to do a blood ritual at dawn and the physical proximity will help us prepare for it."

Draco just lay there, stunned. He certainly hadn't seen that coming, he'd have been less surprised if she actually had snuck in here to seduce him. He reached blindly along the top of his bedside table until he found the familiar length of Hawthorn in his hand.

"Lumos."

Hermione blinked at him as the lights came up. "Why'd you do that?"

"Because I need to be looking at you when we have this conversation." And that's when he spotted a large tome- even by Hermione standards- a ritual bowl, and an athame that he vaguely recognized as belonging to his mother, sitting on the bedside table on the side where Hermione was laying. "Now, run that past me again."

She made a small sound of annoyance. "You heard me. I want to do a blood ritual, a betrothal ritual."

"We just got betrothed not twelve hours ago."

"With a contract," she responded, wrinkling her nose. "It all just felt very legal, I was hoping for something more magical."

"It was a magical contract," he laughed but pulled her closer when he saw insecurity blossom in her eyes, took a deep breath and let her familiar scent soothe his agitation. "Hey, what's going on?"

"I don't know, I was hoping to feel different afterwards but I don't, it just felt like our parents bartered over the terms of our marriage." She was almost vibrating, her magic unsettled, but beyond that he knew she was upset.

"That bothered you," he surmised, he should have considered that- marriage contracts were a foreign and unsettling concept to her.

"It seemed very impersonal, I guess. I'm sorry, I didn't realize it would affect me in this way. And I did want it, I just also wanted something more personal. You know I've been reading up on rituals, because of Harry, but also because of us. I really don't understand why they don't teach us about them at Hogwarts, it's like a whole branch of magic left out of our education!"

He let her rant, he shared her frustration and anyway, it was cute. "Alarmists think ritual magic is too easy to be abused," he answered when she was finished.

"I know, and it can be! But it's also really beautiful. And you can't defend yourself from something you know nothing about!"

"I know," he soothed. "Blood rites are a big deal, Mia. Blood magic is dangerous."

"Because it can be used to bind a person irrevocably against their will," she finished for him. "Which isn't something I'd ever have to worry about between us."

"Of course not." He worked his way until he was sitting up against the pillows tugging her up along with him. "Okay, show me what you want to do."

She hauled the ridiculous tome onto their laps and flipped to the marked page and Draco's eyes immediately went wide, his breath caught in his chest.

"This is a marriage rite."

"Just the beginning of one," she quickly defended, "it would require a final bonding and, um, consummation to be complete."

"But Hermione, I hesitate to label anything as simply Dark, but this is."

"It's not." She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him.

"Hermione," he sighed. "I know you're smart enough to know what this rite does. It binds a woman to her future husband's family. It will allow my family magic to begin to work on you. It will make you want me. Why in the world would you think I'd agree to that?!" He was beyond agitated and had to resist the urge to pull away from her.

"It was your mother's idea."

"Well she's clearly gone around the twist then. I know she's just about desperate for a daughter but this is one step too far."

"Draco, listen to me. Intent matters. This has obviously been used to bind witches in the past against their will, but I'm not unwilling! We would both walk into this with the best of intentions and your mother believes that if we start a marriage bond like this it will actually calm our existing bond, which we both know can be erratic."

"It's fine," he groused.

"It is not fine," she hissed. "Remember the World Cup? Or after your grandmother…"

"Tried to poison you," he finished incredulously. "Salazar's sack, Hermione. I think my losing control of my magic was perfectly understandable in that instance."

"I'm not saying you didn't have perfectly good reasons to react as you did in both instances, but that doesn't stop it from being a dangerous thing to keep happening. What do you think would have happened if none of us had considered that the things held under the lake for the second task might be people? If we hadn't taken precautions, and I'd been take?."

Draco felt his magic flare at the very idea.

"See," she insisted with a knowing expression that was thoroughly irritating. "And if you reacted, if you'd tried to come after me or simply lost your temper, how would you have explained that? Our situation is too precarious for that, Draco. Your magic will still seek to protect me, but starting this bond should keep it under control enough that you at least keep your mind."

"There must be another option."

"Not one that's as effective. And this has another benefit."

"What's that?"

"As you said the Malfoy family magic will begin to work on me, begin to consider me a Malfoy wife."

"Yes, you'll be beholden to it." He clenched his fists as he spoke, what was wrong with this witch?

She eyed him and sighed. "Which would be terrible- if I was unwilling, if I didn't trust you and your parents- but that's not the case here!" She cried. "This would be beneficial to me, I don't have any family magic on my own, my parents have no magic to protect me. This would allow your parents to act like I'm a member of the family. The elves come to me as a courtesy now but if we do this they'd be able to find me even if I couldn't call. This was always going to happen Draco, when we married. Why wait when I'm in danger now?"

"I'm just worried my mother manipulated you into this. She means well, but she'll do just about anything to get what she wants."

"I do know your mother, Draco. And I was the one who approached her about this."

"But she suggested this particular ritual," he narrowed his eyes in her direction and was a little annoyed when she merely smirked at him.

"Yes, but we discussed several, she was very honest with me. Draco, if you aren't ready for this, just say so. It's not that it can't be undone, but it's not easy."

It wasn't until his eyes flew open at that statement that he realized that, in the midst of his frustration, he'd closed them. "Shit! That's not what I meant. I just- it's your life that's changed the most throughout all of this, I wouldn't want you to have regrets."

"There's not a single thing I would change," she said without hesitation.

"Not a single thing?" He asked with the arch of one brow.

That made her smile. "Well, okay, maybe the whole dark lord thing. But things between the two of us? No. I wouldn't want to risk not getting where we are right now, laying in bed together, me trying to talk you into something I'm pretty sure we both already want."

He let out a breath and admitted to himself that he wanted this with her more than he even wanted to take his next one. "Yeah, you're right," he huffed.

"There," she patted his chest. "Now was that so hard?"

"Next time I'll just say: 'whatever you want, dear,'" he winked at her. "I learned that from Father."

She turned her face into his side and laughed. "Turn out the lights, we have to be up early."

"Whatever you want, dear."

She giggled and it was such a delighted sound that he could resist pulling her against him fully, ridding them of the pillow between them. He felt her smile against his neck.

"Oh I do love you."

He froze, she'd said it many times before, but the way she'd just breathed it out as naturally as- well- breathing- as she fell to sleep was more than he could ever possibly have imagined.

"I love you too."

0000000000

Hermione danced at Draco's side as they waited in the floo room at Malfoy Manor for Harry and Sirius to come through.

He clamped down on the hand he was holding, "Merlin, Mia, calm down, you're practically manic. They'll get here when they get here," his words were chiding but he was smiling at her.

Hermione had never been so happy in her life. She felt settled, like things were exactly as they should be. Her bond with Draco had settled on her like warm blanket. She was completely comfortable in it and it left her feeling settled in her own skin as a result. It had not changed her feelings for Draco, just made her more secure in them. She suspected that she wouldn't like being separated from him any more than she ever had, but she thought that it would at least feel less like a physical ailment because her magic would be able to handle it better.

It wasn't something she planned to test if she could help it.

Draco had reported similar feelings. When he'd felt like speaking, that is. He'd invested quite a bit of time into snogging her over the past week.

And today Harry had finally agreed to come to Malfoy Manor. It was the last day of the holidays and she was pretty sure he just couldn't deny his curiosity any longer and Hermione had barely been able to contain her excitement since he'd owled to tell her the night before.

Finally, after what seemed like an interminable wait, Sirius stepped- or rather bounded- out of the fire and greeted them in his usual exaggerated manner. "Kitten! Good to see you, you are looking as lovely as ever!" He kissed her on both cheeks.

"Hi Sirius. You're in a good mood," she giggled.

"What's not to be happy about? And the future Lord Black, how are you?" He shook Draco's hand as her betrothed rolled his eyes.

"I'm well Sirius, and you can keep saying that all you like, but that doesn't make it so."

"Sure, sure," Sirius waved him off.

That when Hermione spotted Harry was hovering behind his godfather. She dropped Draco's hand and launched herself towards him for a hug, but when she heard a hissing she pulled away immediately. "Oh Holly, I'm sorry, I didn't know you were there! Did I hurt you?"

The snake immediately poked her head out from Harry's collar and started hissing again.

"She said she was just letting you know she was here," explained Harry. "She's been a little clingy since the ritual."

Holly turned and looked at Harry and hissed in a clearly displeased manner. Hermione laughed. "Males are notoriously obtuse, it's our burden to bear, I'm certain he hasn't even considered that you had good reason to be worried about him," she told the snake and extended her wrist, "would you like to come to me? Regardless of the obtuseness of men I'd still like you to meet mine."

Holly seemed to consider that and slithered onto her wrist.

"Potter," Draco started, stepping forward with an extended hand. "Welcome to Malfoy Manor. I'm happy to see that you're well."

"Malfoy," Harry responded, clearing his throat uncomfortably but extending his own hand. "Thank you for inviting me. And thank you for the help you've given me with the tournament."

Draco shrugged. "You were dealt a shite hand, that didn't sit right with me. And you matter to Hermione, I would to anything for her."

Harry cleared his throat again. "Well thanks anyways," he said shifting around.

Hermione resisted the urge to roll her eyes but she could practically feel the amusement radiating off of Sirius at the sight of the other two wizards' awkward greetings.

"Holly," she held the snake up to eye level. "This is Draco," she looked at her betrothed. "Draco this is Holly."

He took a startled step backwards. "Hermione-"

"She just wants to meet you," Hermione said as the snake lurched forward curiously.

Draco took another step back.

"Is there a problem?" Harry asked, he'd taken a step forward in an obvious protective maneuver.

"No," Hermione answered quickly. "Draco just isn't crazy about snakes, but I want him to see how awesome Holly is.

"Really?!" Harry snickered.

Hermione shot her most vicious glare at him and he shut up immediately. "Isn't she beautiful?" She continued, meeting her betrothed's eyes, and for a moment he seemed uncertain. Then he smirked.

"Very beautiful," he responded, never looking away from her face.

Harry made a choked sound and she jerked her head up to meet his eyes. "Is something wrong?"

"I- no." He bit his lip and shuffled around uncomfortably. "It's just really weird to see Malfoy being...nice."

Hermione felt her hackles rise. "Did you think I'd consent to being in a relationship with somebody who wasn't nice to me?"

She could see that Harry immediately regretted his words. "I didn't mean it like that! It's just weird, that's all."

Draco snagged her around the waist. "How could I not be, Potter, surely you realize what a catch this witch is. I endeavor to treat her as she is owed."

Harry actually appeared startled by this declaration. "Well, of course," he eventually responded, twisting his hands behind his back and scuffing his feet against the marble again.

Hermione glanced at Sirius but he was leaning casually against the wall next to the door and she could tell that he was determined not to interfere. So she just smiled up at Draco. "You sap," she kissed his jawline, "or maybe you're just a suck up. But seriously, look how beautiful she is." She held the snake- who was still wrapped around her wrist- out towards him again.

Holly cocked her head, obviously evaluating the wizard in front of her and that seemed to amuse Draco who huffed out a laugh and raised a tentative hand. "Can I touch her?" He asked, cutting his eyes in Harry's direction.

"Sure," he shrugged, "if she were opposed you'd already know."

Draco ran one finger gently over her head. "Oh wow, hello," he said, his attention suddenly fully focused on the boomslang. "Hermione's right, you are beautiful, and after that performance at the first task I know you're a proper bad arse too." He laughed when Holly preened. "Plus my witch adores you, so I don't mean to offend, but I was bitten as a child, here in the gardens, and I still find myself wary," he finished his explanation about his fear of snakes.

Holly flicked her tongue against his palm and hissed.

"What did she say?" Hermione asked, fascinated by the display in front of her.

"She says that he smells like you, and that it's nice," Harry answered, cheeks bright with embarrassment.

Hermione sighed. "Honestly Harry, we're in a relationship, there's a certain amount of physical contact. I'm sure that to a certain extent, Draco and I smell like each other, not just him like me."

Holly hissed a reply.

"She says that's right, she can tell that you're mates and that you're well suited," Harry's blush didn't dissipate in the least at this declaration.

Holly kept speaking, apparently choosing to ignore her wizard's discomfort.

"Also, she knows that it was Malfoy's idea for me to get a snake, so she feels that she owes him a debt. She's willing to talk to the snakes on the property and let them know that the humans aren't a threat so that he doesn't have to worry about them."

Hermione watched Draco's eyes soften. "That's very kind of you," he spoke directly to Holly. "We have a myriad of magical creatures on the estate, I hope you'll be comfortable here, they've been told to make you welcome."

Holly made a pleased sound and slithered onto his wrist.

Harry snorted and Holly hissed at him in a way that was obviously a reprimand. Hermione hid a smile behind her hand and Draco gasped. "Oh, wow," he said, "her magic is really something."

"Yeah," said Harry, clearly surprised by that reaction from Draco, "I was drawn to her from the moment I entered the shop. No other snake even came close to creating that kind of pull on my magic."

"I suppose it would take a very robust creature to be able to settle with your magic," Draco conceded.

Harry's eyes went wide and his mouth dropped open.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Seriously Potter? Hermione is your best friend; even if I hadn't seen you cast a patronus, and in the presence of a bloody dragon of all things, I would know that you're particularly powerful."

"Oh," Harry answered, his mouth hanging open.

"You should take your schoolwork more seriously though, you're wasting your potential," Draco finished, without missing a beat.

"Draco!" Hermione hissed.

"What? It's true! And have you not told him a thousand times?" He countered as he allowed Holly to climb his arm.

There was an uncomfortable silence.

"He's right," Harry said eventually, rubbing the back of his neck and sighing. "But I've been better this year, I get it now."

"Yeah," Draco snorted, "because you've been hogging Hermione. And Claire, for that matter."

There was another silence but then Harry started to grin and then chuckle. "That must have driven you crazy," he practically cackled.

"You have no idea," Draco responded, extending his hand again in front of Harry.

This time Harry took it with a smile on his face and held Draco's eyes as he shook it. Hermione just watched, her mouth agape.

"Thank you for not holding it against her, she values your friendship," Draco spoke quietly.

"Hermione is important to me too, she's my best friend."

Draco's entire posture relaxed at that declaration. "I'm happy to hear that, but I was referring to Claire."

"Oh," Harry said, brought up short, "well, she's really nice."

Nobody mentioned the way Harry's cheeks reddened again at the mention of her name.

"She wanted to tell you herself- that she was Draco's cousin- she felt terrible for lying to you, but you know the foreign students have to stay at Hogwarts for the holidays and it wouldn't have been safe to tell you before," Hermione provided in the silence that followed.

"No, I get it," said Harry. "Any other huge secrets?" He glanced between them all, his voice was joking but his meaning was serious.

"Not that I know of," Hermione answered, "and if the adults are keeping things from us, well, I'd seriously consider it before I demanded answers if I were you. I, for one, am okay knowing what I know for now, that's hard enough."

He just looked at her for the longest time but then he nodded too.

"Would you like to see the house, Potter?" Draco asked when that had settled in. "My parents are available, it's up to you to decide if you want to see them or not but you're welcome here nonetheless."

"That sounds good," Harry nodded in agreement.

And then Draco led them out of the room, Hermione gaping after them. Once they'd departed she looked at Sirius whose eyes were full of mirth, she narrowed her own eyes in response. "I will never understand boys- it wasn't, they just- ugh! After everything we've been through, that's it?!"

"What? Did you want them to throw a few punches?"

"Of course not!"

He offered her his arm. "Then just accept it, Kitten. And if it makes you feel better I can assure you that the confusion you're feeling right now pales in comparison to what we wizards face on a daily basis from you witches."

"Stop enjoying this so much," she groused even as she took his arm.

He placed a kiss on the top of her head as he'd become so fond of doing. She bit her lip so that he wouldn't see her smile; it always filled her with warmth to be so fully accepted by somebody who had no obligation to her at all, just affection. "You're enjoying this too," he accused, "in fact, I'd wager this is already going better than you ever could have imagined. You just can't stand that you didn't see it coming."

Hermione could only describe the sound he was making as he escorted her into the main part of the Manor to be giggling. She was not amused.

She was not.

"Shut up Sirius."