Chapter Twenty-Six

The Tattoo

Hermione woke up to feel the sun's rays on her face.

She smiled as she remembered where she was and opened her eyes.

Her old bedroom. Or rather, her new bedroom. It was similar to the one in her memories but much bigger and more modern.

Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Draco lying in front of her, his face only inches away.

He was still asleep and breathing deeply. His breath ruffled her curls and tickled her neck.

Everything that had happened the night before still seemed unbelievable to her. Her birthday, seeing all her friends gathered in the same place again, the flash of jealousy in Draco's eyes when Viktor came over to greet her, the strange conversation with Fleur, the hateful looks Bill gave Draco every time he passed by...

And the house where she'd spent her childhood, completely rebuilt.

Her cheeks started to burn when she remembered what had happened next.

The conversation with Draco, the kisses, him carrying her to the bed in his arms, the feeling of him on top of her, the confessions, their bodies brushing against each other and hers bursting into flames, the I love you that had escaped her lips...

Even though they were both wearing clothes, she'd been able to feel his body. All of it. And she'd had to use her wand to clean both of their pyjamas before they fell asleep.

'Better to think of something else.'

His chin on her head and his arms around her, keeping her as close to him as possible. How peaceful she'd felt and how well she'd slept with him by her side.

I've loved you for quite some time, Granger.

That admission had left her speechless.

How long had Draco had feelings for her? Was it because of the mate bond that was forming between them?

Hermione bit her bottom lip and his breathing paused.

"I can hear how you think, Granger. You should be asleep."

His voice was so rough it made her smile.

"I'm not tired."

Draco opened his eyes and stared at her so intensely that it took her breath away. Images of the two of them kissing with their bodies completely glued together came back to her mind, replaying over and over again.

What would it be like to do that with him but with their clothes off?

A thousand times better, of that she was absolutely sure.

All of her skin burned every time he touched and kissed her, and having him lying on top of her had been overwhelming. Hermione had forgotten everything for a few minutes as if the only thing in the world was Draco and his lips.

His shoulders were growing tighter and tighter. Hermione frowned when she saw him clench his jaw.

"What's wrong with you?"

Draco closed his fist on the pillow and his nostrils flared.

"You know I'm very good at Occlumency, right?"

"Of course," she said with a curt nod.

"Well, I'm good at Legilimency too, Granger."

Her blood froze in her veins.

"What?"

Draco snorted. The rims of his irises had started to glow and were turning silver.

"Stop. I can't even blink," he growled under his breath.

Hermione blinked and he sighed, closing his eyes.

"Fuck."

She'd forgotten for a moment that he couldn't look away if she stared into his eyes.

"Did you... did you see what I was thinking?"

"Yes."

'Oh, shit.'

"And why did you do that?" she asked, feeling hurt.

"It's the first time this has ever happened to me, Granger."

That reassured her. The Draco she had known for the past few months would never try to read her mind without her permission.

He took a sharp intake of breath, his muscles still very tense.

"I've never been able to do it without my wand. I was thinking about how I'd like to know what was going on inside your head and, by saying the incantation in my mind, I got inside yours."

Hermione let out a shaky breath.

"I didn't notice anything."

"Because my intention was not to hurt you or to invade your mind in search of your most treasured memories. I promise you that when the Dark Lord did it, it hurt as much as the Cruciatus Curse."

"Did he do it to you many times?"

"A few."

His eyes were still closed. She placed a hand over his and he held his breath.

"I just need a minute."

Hermione didn't move an inch. She barely breathed until she felt him relax and his eyes opened. They were grey again.

He gave her a reassuring smile, tucking a curl behind her ear.

"That was a close one."

A nervous giggle left her throat.

"What for?"

"I almost jumped on you and ripped your clothes off."

Her eyes widened and her heart fluttered but she quickly regained control.

"You're not going to scare me by saying those things, Draco. I know you'd never do anything I don't want you to."

He arched an eyebrow.

"I'm glad one of us trusts my self-control that much."

Hermione rolled her eyes, sniffling. She understood that Draco had trouble controlling his emotions but she knew that, no matter how much he lost control, he would never lay a hand on her without her consent.

He had even asked her permission to kiss her for the first time, though not with words. Did he really think he would touch her without doing the same?

"What if you hurt me? Do you think you wouldn't care?"

His face darkened instantly.

"I'd rather die."

"See?" she said with a victorious smile.

Draco snorted, moving his head closer to her until it rested in the crook of her neck. He inhaled deeply, his hot breath making her hair stand on end.

"I see your point, but I'd rather not risk it."

She buried her fingers into his slightly dishevelled hair and tried to comb it.

That very morning she had a portkey to Australia. She had arranged to visit her parents to celebrate her birthday together, and she would be able to tell them the big news.

Hermione hoped they would react well. Ever since she'd altered their memories Peter and Jane Granger hadn't been their usual selves, not entirely comfortable in her presence and flinching if she pulled out her wand in front of them.

Her fingers trailed down to his neck and paused over the tattoo on the right side of his throat.

Two runes and three numbers.

"Maybe there's a way to remove this," she murmured, tracing them with her fingertips and gasping in surprise when she could feel them.

Draco shook his head without taking his nose away from her neck.

"It's like the Dark Mark. They made it with magic so it'll never fade away completely."

"We'll see about that," she replied, reciting in her mind the calculations she could use to try and create a spell to erase it.

His sharp nose trailed up her skin and his lips left a kiss near her ear. Hermione sighed and he pulled away, looking down at her neck with a frown.

"Who did this to you?" he asked softly, running his thumb over the scars on her throat.

Hermione wrinkled her nose as she remembered one of the worst days of her life.

"Bellatrix's dagger."

Draco stiffened, working his jaw.

"Bloody bitch," he hissed under his breath.

Hermione cocked her head to the side, looking him in the eye.

"It doesn't matter, Draco. It's just two little scars and they're barely visible."

He was angry. She could see it on his face.

"You wouldn't say that if you knew what she was planning to do with you."

"What do you mean?" she questioned, furrowing her brow.

Draco twisted his lips to the side.

"I'll just tell you that I was glad you three got out of there in time."

"Draco, please."

He shook his head.

"She's dead. Whatever it is, it'll never happen," Hermione insisted, running her other hand through his blond locks.

She smiled as she saw him relax. Draco liked it too much to have his hair touched.

His long fingers returned to her throat and she watched him bite the inside of his cheek.

"The dagger she used to threaten you was her favourite and it was cursed. When you passed out she was laughing at you and telling us that she would carve a word into your forearm as soon as you regained consciousness."

Her bottom lip trembled and she pressed them together so he wouldn't notice.

"What word?" she asked in a whisper.

She knew the answer before he spoke. His eyes searched her gaze again and he sighed.

"Mudblood."

She tried not to react but the blood drained from her face. If they had stayed there any longer, she would have a hideous scar that would be impossible to get rid of.

Draco placed a hand on the nape of her neck and pushed her to him until they were in each other's arms.

His comforting scent broke through the memories of Bellatrix Lestrange's high-pitched laughter and Hermione smiled again, resting her head on his chest.

"Thank you for staying here with me last night."

His soft chuckle sent a shiver down her spine.

"I'd have to be mad to have left, Granger."

When Draco walked through the main fireplace of Malfoy Manor, he found Rinny in the foyer.

"Master Draco."

"Good morning, Rinny."

"Your friends are in the pool."

Of course. Draco rolled his eyes and turned into the hallway on the right, walking down it to the end.

He opened the wooden door and it wasn't long before he heard the laughter of his three best friends. He took slow steps down the stairs, letting out a snort of annoyance.

"You three seem to think again that you own this manor."

Pansy's green eyes met his first and she gave him a big grin. The three of them were inside the turquoise waters, though Theo was in the Jacuzzi and only his head was visible through the bubbles.

"We've been waiting for you for a while, but we got bored," Blaise commented, shrugging before dipping his head into the water.

Pansy walked over to the edge, leaning her elbows on it.

"Will you join us?"

"In a moment. Remember that I can't use my wand to change clothes," Draco complained, clicking his tongue as he walked into the changing rooms.

Theo and Pansy exchanged a glance and she rolled her eyes.

"He speaks as if Granger isn't going to get his wand back."

"We don't know for sure," Blaise muttered, his head out of the water again.

Theo glanced sideways at his friend, raising an eyebrow.

"That girl always gets everything she sets her mind to, and we all know it."

"I hope you're right," Blaise added, ruffling his hair with a hand as he walked towards them.

They heard a splash and a few seconds later Draco appeared between the three of them. He shook his head, splashing them, and glanced between them.

"Why did you come here? We weren't supposed to meet today, I thought you wouldn't be up until midday."

"One sobering-up potion and the three of us are as good as new," Theo murmured, dropping his head back and closing his eyes.

Pansy took two steps closer and arched her brow.

"We want to know what Granger said about her gift."

It had taken her too long to ask. Draco looked down at his nails as he spoke.

"She loved it. She'll be getting her things ready to go to the Ministry right now because in an hour a portkey will take her to Australia. She's going to tell her parents today."

"That you're together?" Blaise asked, confused.

"No," Draco replied grimly. "That they can come back to England."

"They don't know about you yet?" Theo asked with surprised eyes.

"I don't know. We haven't talked about it."

Pansy was still staring at him and her lips curled up. That was never a good sign.

"Where did you sleep tonight, Draco?"

He frowned, looking between his friends until she insisted.

"Rinny told us you didn't come by last night, and I visited Potter's house this morning looking for you. You weren't there either."

'Fucking hell.'

It was like Pansy could smell when there was something juicy to tell.

"I slept over there with her."

Blaise snorted, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively, and Draco swallowed.

"Slept?" Pansy repeated, folding her arms and narrowing her eyes at him.

"Yes, we just slept," he added quietly, staring down at the bubbles in the jacuzzi as if they were the most interesting thing he'd ever seen in his life.

Draco tried to control his reaction but his face gave him away. Pansy gasped, pointing an accusing finger at him.

"Liar! Something's happened between you two."

"Shit," Draco grunted, sighing and shaking his head.

He should have kept ocludding when he left Granger's house. That way his friend wouldn't have noticed anything, no matter how agitated he was inside.

Pansy placed both hands on her hips and shot him a hateful glare.

"You'd better tell us right now, Draco Malfoy, or I'm going to go ask her."

Draco bared his teeth at her.

"Over my dead body," he hissed angrily.

Blaise patted his back.

"Come on, mate. We just want to help you."

"And we're a bit nosy too," Theo added, giving him a mischievous grin.

Draco rolled his eyes and leaned his back against the edge of the pool.

Maybe it would do him good to talk to them about it.

"Granger was really happy and she was crying at first."

"Yes, she got emotional. What else?" Pansy cut him off, flicking her wrist impatiently.

He narrowed his eyes in her direction before continuing.

"Then we went up to her room, and she kissed me and asked me to sleep there with her."

"And you said yes," Theo added with a grin.

"Obviously," Draco continued, running his tongue over his teeth. "The kissing got more... intense, and I lost a bit of control."

"We just got to the interesting part," Blaise murmured, rubbing his hands together.

Draco pushed him with his arm, throwing him towards the bottom of the pool, and kept talking.

"When I was able to think again, she was sitting on her desk and the kisses were deep. We were so close, and..." he paused, shaking his head abruptly. "She didn't want me to stop and we ended up lying on her bed."

"You on top?" Pansy asked, running her forefinger over her lips.

Draco nodded and she motioned for him to continue the story.

"We kept kissing and, well... I felt a lot of things being with her like this. It was impossible to resist, and seeing her face and her gestures drove me crazy. I thought I wouldn't be able to stop, but I did."

Pansy was still looking at him intently, analysing his every word.

"You didn't take your clothes off at any point, did you?" she asked again.

"No."

"So you two didn't fuck?" Blaise asked with wide eyes.

Draco grimaced and shoved him again. Theo pursed his lips as his friend disappeared into the bottom of the pool.

"You're such a romantic, Blaise," Pansy grunted, rolling her eyes. "You're making progress, Draco. I didn't think you two would be dry-humping so soon."

Draco wrinkled his nose, taking a step back.

"What the hell, Pansy?"

"That's what it's called. Rubbing your bodies with your clothes on," she said, waving a hand at his disgusted face. "Did you get her to have an orgasm?"

The conversation was starting to get embarrassing. Draco let out a long sigh.

"Yes."

"And you?"

He didn't answer but he knew he had blushed even more. Blaise had already swum back over and all three of his friends gasped at once.

"You too!" Theo shouted, and he burst out laughing. "Bloody hell, what a mess."

Draco slapped his friend on the shoulder a little too hard and he hissed.

"She scourgified us both with her wand before we fell asleep," he added, avoiding their gazes and resting both elbows on the edge.

"Of course she did," Pansy said, still smirking. "And how was the experience for you?"

Images of the night before flashed through his mind and Draco swallowed, looking back into her eyes.

"Amazing," he admitted in a whisper.

She smiled.

"When an occasion like this comes up again with Granger, I want you to use your fingers as we talked about," she murmured, running a hand through her black hair as if she were talking about clothes.

Theo let out a groan and dipped his head into the water until he disappeared.

"Another prude," she protested, rolling her eyes. "You know, you've got to try and find her..."

"Yes, Pansy. I know," Draco cut her off in a raspy voice.

"You don't have any more doubts, then?"

He pursed his lips.

"No. And I don't want to talk to you three about this again."

"Bad luck, because you're going to keep doing it," she muttered, shrugging one of her shoulders. "This conversation has made me hungry. Anyone up for brunch?"

Theo came out of the water, holding up a hand.

"Me."

"Let's go then," Pansy urged them, getting out of the pool.

The three boys followed her and she called Rinny, asking him to prepare brunch for four.

"Let me remind you again that this is not your house," Draco grunted as the elf disappeared.

"Shut up and dry yourself, Draco," Pansy snarled without looking at him.

She held her wand and flicked it, transforming her swimsuit into a long red dress. Theo and Blaise mimicked her and Draco pouted, re-entering the changing room with a towel draped over his shoulders.

Blaise moved away to one of the chairs, sitting down and running the towel through his hair. Pansy walked over to Theo and placed a finger on his chin with a smirk on her face, forcing him to look her in the eye.

"You're still shy," she commented, kissing his cheek.

"And I always will be," he replied, running his wand through his hair until it was dry and as perfect as ever. "You're too much for me, honey."

Pansy bumped her shoulder against his lovingly, holding his right hand and walking to the exit.

"That's not true. You can handle me just fine."

Blaise and Draco looked at each other and the latter shook his head. The two followed the couple as they walked up the stairs and out into the main corridor, trying not to hear their conversation.

As you have read, Hermione doesn't have the Mudblood scar in this story! That never happened in the books