Chapter Eighteen
Pansy's Secret
Harry entered the room as soon as he heard the roar of flames.
"About time."
Draco ran his tongue over his teeth and gave him a sidelong glance as Hermione wiped the ash from her coat.
"I know you miss me, Potter, but you might want to play it down a little."
Harry rolled his eyes.
"Shut up, Malfoy. Ginny will be here soon and this is confidential."
Hermione nodded and the three of them walked out into the corridor, making their way down it. Harry sat down in one of the chairs. There was a large platter full of food in the centre of the table. He pulled something small out of his pocket when Hermione and Draco sat down across from him, placing it between them.
She held her breath.
"We've analysed it and you were right. They've found a way to store an Unforgivable Curse inside these bullets," Harry explained quietly, crossing his arms.
Draco narrowed his eyes.
"And could they do it with the other two curses?"
Harry leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his black hair and tousling it even more.
"I don't think so. The Imperius Curse would stop working the moment someone extracted the bullet, and the Killing Curse is too powerful. The bullet would explode if they tried."
Hermione sighed. At least, it was a relief to know that they wouldn't be able to kill anyone like that.
"So what was it you wanted to tell us about Pansy?"
Harry's face darkened.
"It was hidden in the ash, but we found a bullet just like this one. They're both made of the same material so it's very likely that the two attacks are related."
"Do you think that group also tried to kill Pansy?" Draco asked, making fists.
Harry nodded seriously.
The three of them heard the sound of the fireplace being activated and he frowned, putting a finger to his lips. Hermione and Draco nodded once just before Ginny entered the dining room.
"You're all here! I hope you didn't start without me."
"We've been waiting for you," Hermione replied, trying to smile.
Ginny sat down next to Harry and kissed his cheek, smiling in Draco's direction.
"How are you doing, Malfoy?"
"Very well, Ginevra. And you?" he said, lifting his brow.
Ginny wrinkled her nose slightly at her given name.
"Good, looking forward to our next match against Harry," she replied, ruffling his hair even more.
Draco grinned and Hermione couldn't help but do the same.
"Whenever you're ready. You'll bite the dust next time, Potter."
Harry cocked his head, tugging at his lip with his teeth to keep from smiling.
"We'll see about that."
Hermione realised that she was very nervous as soon as she woke up. She didn't know if Draco was going to be angry when he found out what she had done, but she hoped he understood.
She rolled over in bed, smiling as she saw his grey eyes already open.
"Good morning."
"Hello."
"Ready to open your presents?"
"And you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Hermione chuckled, nodding.
"Nothing can be better than last year's surprise trip to Paris."
"I am a Malfoy after all, but I've prepared something different this year," Draco commented, standing up and reaching into his wardrobe for a t-shirt.
Hermione rolled her eyes and left the room, walking down the stairs with Crookshanks following in her footsteps.
She smiled at the sight of the wrapped presents under the Christmas tree by the fireplace and bent down to read the tags.
There were two from Harry and Ginny, one from Ron for her, two from Molly Weasley and two from Narcissa.
One small package from Hagrid was suspiciously shaped and Hermione decided to save it for last. Two bright yellow presents were from Luna, two purple ones came from Andromeda and the rest were from Draco's friends.
Hermione took the two that were wrapped in Slytherin green paper that said 'For Hermione'.
"Were you planning on opening them without me?"
She turned her head to the stairs, shaking her head.
"I was waiting for you."
Draco sat down next to her, crossing his legs and rubbing one of Crookshanks' ears.
"You start," he murmured, pointing to the two packages in her lap.
She opened the larger, rectangular-shaped one. It was the picture someone had taken of them during their last year at Hogwarts when Draco kissed her at the Quidditch match.
Hermione gasped, holding the framed photo with both hands. It was much bigger than the one she had put in his photo album.
She laughed softly and Draco frowned.
"What's so funny?"
She passed him a gold-coloured package without a word and he glanced sideways at her before opening it.
Hermione saw his eyes grow wide as he looked down at the wooden album cover.
"Open it, Draco."
Right on the first page was the same picture, but quite a bit smaller. Hermione grinned at the look of surprise on his face.
"Now you understand why I was laughing, don't you?"
Draco didn't reply. He was turning the pages of the album slowly, looking at each of the photographs.
"Are they all the ones that were in The Prophet?" he asked, looking up.
Hermione nodded.
"And the one Harry took of us last Christmas at the Burrow. That's all the photos we have together, and you can add more."
He looked at his present again, flipping through the last three pages that had pictures.
"I know you have just a couple of photos from your Hogwarts years so I thought you might like them," she added nervously, wringing her hands.
He set the album aside and grabbed both of her hands, pulling her into his arms.
"Thank you, Hermione," he whispered, hiding his face in her curls.
She smiled again, tangling her fingers in his blond hair.
"That's not all. I have another present for you."
Draco pulled away from her and looked into her eyes, frowning. Hermione raised her wand and pointed it at a corner of the room.
"Finite."
An elongated package appeared and Draco gasped, standing up.
"Is that what I think it is?"
"There's only one way to find out."
He lifted the present, opening it with trembling hands. The golden paper fell to the floor.
"Draco?"
Hermione got to her feet when she saw that he couldn't answer her.
He wasn't even moving. Draco was holding the dark green broom in his hands, running his fingers along the stick.
"Don't you like it?"
He made a grunting noise and glared at her.
"How can I not like it? Granger, this is... How could you pay for it?"
She sighed, crossing her arms.
"Don't be mad, but a few days ago I agreed to an interview with Rita Skeeter. It's in today's Daily Prophet."
"And you were able to pay for this with only that?"
Hermione arched an eyebrow.
"She offered me a lot of money if I talked about our relationship."
Draco wrinkled his nose.
"That bloody woman was eager to write an interesting article again and you offered it to her on a platter."
"I saw the way you looked at the Nimbus 2010 every time we walked past the shop, Draco. I wanted to get you something you really wanted."
Hermione held back her laughter as she watched him leave the broom leaning against the wall, almost as if he was afraid it might break.
Soon she was in his arms again, her feet floating in the air.
"It's too much. I don't deserve it."
"Yes, you do."
Draco squeezed her tighter, making her groan.
"Fuck. I'm sorry, I... my presents are shit next to yours," he added, loosening his grip and setting her back down.
"Don't say that."
"You spent a thousand galleons on that Nimbus, Hermione."
She tilted her head to the side, looking him in the eye. Draco couldn't stop smiling.
"And I think it was worth it."
He cupped her face with both hands.
"Even if I never tell you... You know I love you, right?"
"That's the fourth time you've told me," Hermione whispered, a smile on her lips.
He arched an eyebrow.
"Are you keeping track?"
She blushed, shaking her head.
"You told me twice the day you saved me from the mermaid, and once more when we slept together in that tower."
Draco ran his thumb over her bottom lip, his eyes still fixed on her.
"I love you, Hermione."
"Fifth time," she murmured, standing on her tiptoes.
Draco smirked and caught her lips, kissing her as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer to him.
"You have yet to open one of my gifts," he whispered, pulling away a few inches.
Hermione blinked a few times, trying to bring herself back to reality. That kiss had been amazing.
She returned to the tree and picked up the other green package, which was considerably smaller. Opening it, she saw a square velvet box and gave Draco a sidelong glance before opening it. Inside were a pendant and a bracelet.
She frowned, looking at the glittering stones on both pieces of jewellery.
"What are they, Draco?"
"Diamonds."
Hermione gasped, closing the box again.
"I told you you can't spend all your savings on me!"
"I haven't spent a galleon on it."
She frowned again, narrowing her eyes, and Draco gave her a smirk.
"The Pensieve Room is not the only hidden room in Malfoy Manor. The Ministry Aurors couldn't find any of them, though they tried. There is a small vault hidden behind the wall of my father's office. It holds all my family jewels and some money that Lucius preferred to keep at home in case we needed it."
Hermione relaxed her stance, opening the box again.
"Does this belong to your family?"
"I think it was my great-great-grandmother's or something like that," he added, sitting down at her side.
"I can't accept it, Draco."
"Of course you can, it's yours now. I chose this one because it's not too ostentatious."
Hermione glanced at the pendant again, feeling herself blush. He was giving her something that belonged to his ancestors and that had great significance among pureblood families.
Draco kissed her cheek.
"Take it."
She sighed, taking the two jewels out of the box.
"Okay."
"That's my girl," he joked, picking up another package.
It had a small note attached to it. Draco cleared his throat, reading it aloud.
"You ran out of the cologne I gave you a few months ago and I know you love it, so here's another one. This time I've left the original package so you can see what it really is. Don't get angry, Draco."
He opened the present with a frown. Draco picked up the small package and turned it over, reading the description as Hermione opened hers.
"What a bitch."
"Draco!" she hissed, elbowing him.
He ignored her, running to the fireplace and throwing a handful of Floo powder.
"Parkinson Manor."
Hermione cursed under her breath, getting up and leaving her present on the sofa.
"We'll be right back, Crookshanks."
The cat meowed, closing his eyes. Hermione stepped into the fireplace and repeated his words, appearing seconds later in his best friend's manor.
Screams echoed throughout the house.
"How could you do that to me!"
"Stop shouting and listen to me, Draco!"
"I don't want to see you again, ever!"
Hermione walked into the living room with her wand raised. Pansy was sitting in one of the armchairs, her mother next to her, and he was standing right in front of them.
"Don't be so dramatic! I did it to help you!"
"That's a fucking..."
Hermione snorted, casting a non-verbal Silencius on Draco. He clenched his fists when he couldn't speak and spun around, glaring darkly at her.
"You can't talk to your friend like that, especially not in front of her mother."
Mrs. Parkinson stood up, clicking her tongue.
"I'd better leave you all alone to sort out your problems. I'll be upstairs, Pansy."
She nodded and her mother disappeared at a brisk pace. Hermione waved her wand again, giving Draco his voice back.
He bit his tongue, glaring down at his friend.
"You're the worst."
Pansy snorted, rolling her eyes.
"It helped you find her. You should be glad instead of yelling at me like you've gone mad."
"What's going on?" Hermione asked, approaching them.
Draco held the package out to her, avoiding her gaze.
"Read it yourself."
Hermione took it and read the small print quickly. Draco folded his arms, giving Pansy a hateful look.
This cologne includes a couple of drops of Veela's scent. It will blend with your pheromones when you wear it and attract your perfect mate. Thousands of wizards have already tried it and have been very satisfied - Send us an owl and tell us about your experience!
She gasped, looking up.
"What's the meaning of this?"
"Do you remember how much you liked my scent when we met again at Hogwarts? After my trial, Pansy gave me that cologne and I started using it after the summer."
Hermione sat down next to Pansy.
"Does that mean I'm his perfect match?"
"That means my scent fooled you! You came on to me just for that!" Draco hissed, pulling at his hair and pacing around the room.
"Draco, calm down. You're wrong."
"You think so? Then explain to me why she let me kiss her and agreed to have sex with me when she's hated me for years," he snarled through his teeth.
Hermione grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"I was the one who decided to do all that. I indeed loved your smell and it made me a little nervous, but you were the one who got my attention. You and your words."
"There were days when you weren't wearing it and she was coming on to you too, right?" Pansy asked, raising her brow.
Draco wrinkled his nose.
"I guess so."
"This cologne doesn't work that way, Draco. You have to believe me. All it does is make you smell very good to someone who might be a good match for you."
He didn't answer. He was still not looking at the two girls.
"I'll prove it to you," Pansy murmured, opening the bottle and taking one of Hermione's hands.
She put out a drop on the back of her hand and spread it with her fingers, making her skin absorb it.
"Do you feel any different now?" she asked, looking back up at Draco.
Hermione saw his eyes settle on her. His gaze was so intense that she felt a shiver.
"No, but she smells even better than before. Her fruity scent is much more intense."
"See?" Pansy said with a smile.
Hermione stood up, taking a few steps towards him.
"Don't be mad at her," she whispered, hugging him.
"You were lonely and miserable, Draco. I just wanted to help you a little," Pansy added, shrugging one of her shoulders.
He wrapped his arms around Hermione, staring down at his best friend.
"I'll have my revenge."
"I'd expect nothing less from you," she replied, holding his gaze.
Draco snorted, grabbing one of Hermione's hands and walking down the corridor.
"Happy Christmas, Pansy," she said, looking back at her.
Pansy grinned.
"I'll expect you both at my birthday party tomorrow."
"It'll be a party you won't forget," Draco said under his breath.
Hermione rolled her eyes, squeezing his hand.
"Don't be like that. That cologne had nothing to do with what happened between us."
"Why are you so sure?"
"Because I've read all about it, aromas and essences. I assure you it didn't affect my decision."
Draco released her hand as soon as they were back in the Grangers' living room. He tangled a finger in one of her curls, lifting her chin with his other hand.
"You're probably right."
"I am," she murmured, smiling up at him.
He raised her left hand, bringing it to his nose.
"It's more intense, but you're still you."
"You don't notice anything different?" she asked curiously.
Draco ran his tongue over his teeth, pretending to think.
"I feel like locking myself in the bedroom with you and not coming out again until tomorrow... but maybe I already felt that way when I woke up."
Hermione laughed and he joined in, lowering his head until their foreheads were pressed together.
"Happy Christmas, by the way."
"Happy Christmas," she whispered, placing both hands on his chest.
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him again, trying to show him that nothing could have changed what happened. With or without the cologne, Hermione would have fallen into his trap sooner or later.
It was impossible to resist Draco, and she was certain that she would have fallen in love with him much sooner if he had treated her differently.
