You get four songs this week because I just couldn't narrow it down to three.
Songs – Nonstop by Drake, Burning Down the House by Talking Heads, Stuntin' Like My Daddy by Lil Wayne and Birdman, and Supermassive Black Hole by Muse
Chapter Eleven: Mischief at Malfoy Manor
Hermione was fidgeting with the skirt of her gown, her heart beating nervously as she looked at herself one last time in the mirror.
"You look–" Draco began from his position at the other side of the room, staring at her in unabashed awe.
"Like a stuffed sausage?" she offered before he could finish his thought.
"Fucking unbelievable," he finished, ignoring her self-deprecating comment.
Despite her protests that something in her closet would suffice, Draco had insisted that she have something jaw-dropping to wear for their first joint venture into British Wizarding society and took it upon himself to have several gowns delivered to her flat. Out of all of the options that he had procured for her, she hadn't expected to be brave enough to pull this one off, but when she put it on for the first time, she simply couldn't stand the thought of wearing anything else.
The sleeveless gown was constructed out of a beautifully draped, deep blue silk. In the front, the fabric was cut tastefully across her chest, dipping slightly to highlight her cleavage but not exposing too much. The rest of the fabric clung perfectly to her curves, perfectly accentuating her hips, only draping away from her body at her knees where it then floated effortlessly to the floor. However, the real drama of the dress was reserved for the back, which was cut lower than anything she had ever worn in public before, exposing the dip in lower back just above her bum. Only two small straps, crossed delicately near the bottom of her shoulder blades, stood between her and a major fashion faux pas, but she couldn't help but feel more powerful because of it.
To show off the elaborate design, Hermione had twisted her hair into a simple but elegant chignon. She kept her makeup simple, feeling it complimented the drama of the dress well, and adorned her ears with a pair of small diamond earrings.
"You really don't think this is too much?" she asked, turning to face Draco.
"Fuck no," he told her as he pushed himself off the bed and moved towards her, stopping to trace a hand softly down her spine. "But I'm going to have a hard time keeping my hands off of you tonight."
"You don't look so bad yourself," she managed, shivering at his touch.
Draco looked unbelievably handsome in his black dress robes, but then again, it didn't really matter what he had on, he always did. His platinum hair was, as usual, perfectly untamed, while the rest of his stunning pale features seemed to glow against the dark fabric of his robes. She could still make out the exquisitely toned muscles on his shoulders hidden under his clothing, and her body shuddered as she imagined how he would look when she tore it all off later that night.
"What time is it?" she asked as his hand finally stilled, settling at the small of her back.
"Three minutes to eight," he replied, his jaw tightening with the realization that they were about to enter the snake's pit. "We'll be expected to arrive with the rest of the guests at the main entrance, but the blood wards will me Apparate us past the front gate, bypassing the security out front."
Hermione nodded.
"Draco," she said quietly, grabbing a hold of his hand when she noticed his sudden discomfort. "It's going to be alright."
He looked down at her, her caramel eyes staring up at him with a level of confidence that he wished he shared.
"Just let me do the talking when we see my parents," he told her before pulling her in for one last private kiss. "And don't you dare think about leaving me alone with anyone tonight," he added as he pulled away with a boyish grin on his face.
"I wouldn't dare," she replied, smiling back at him as she tightened her fingers around his.
"Ready or not," Draco said before Apparating them away.
They landed behind a small circle of trees, and even though the leaves were blocking her view, Hermione could feel the grandeur of the ancient estate permeating the air around them. It was only when she felt a slight tug on her hand that Hermione remembered what they were supposed to be doing, and she looked up at Draco, nodding her readiness to move out into the open.
And even though she felt her heart skip a beat as they exited the trees, she kept moving, refusing to let her old fear of the place control her.
Malfoy Manor was as grand and imposing as Hermione remembered, but the particulars of her presence tonight were dramatically different than the last time she had been here. Sure, she still felt like an unwilling prisoner just hoping to survive the night, but this time, Draco was by her side. This time, she was going to make damn sure that no one, not even the wretched Lucius Malfoy, ruined the night.
It was much colder than she had expected it to be, and she shivered slightly as her body tried to accommodate the sudden change in temperature. However, before she even thought to take out her own wand to do something about it, Draco had already cast a warming spell around her.
"Thank you," she whispered.
They continued walking across the lawn, squeezing each other's hands as they approached the madness in front of the Manor. Hermione felt Draco tense as they neared the crowded entrance, and she moved her free hand to his bicep, her fingers moving softly in reassurance.
They would do this together.
The cameras started flashing before either of them realized they had walked right into the line of photographers fighting to get the best shot of the new couple, and Draco, who had spent the last nine years of his life trying to avoid this kind of attention, would shrank back slightly.
"Smile," she muttered under her breath as she continued to drag him along.
Draco, realizing that the moment for hiding had long since passed, moved his hand around Hermione's waist, and they paused in front of the cameras, allowing the photographers to capture them together for the first time since the news of their involvement broke. Even though he knew it was a necessary evil to keep the news of their mission under wraps, the attention made him supremely uncomfortable, and he struggled to remain composed as the flashing lights blinded him.
When, after a few minutes, he had reached his limit, Draco bent his head down to Hermione's ear and whispered quietly in her ear. "Get me the fuck away from here."
"With pleasure," she replied softly, wishing she could flick everyone off instead of happily waving goodbye. She grabbed a hold of his hand and pulled him toward the entrance, the small train of her dress trailing beautifully behind her as she walked.
Hermione could feel people's eyes on them before they had made it two paces past the door, and despite having mentally prepared herself for this level of attention, she suddenly felt extremely exposed and vulnerable.
"Don't," Draco warned, easily reading her thoughts. "You're perfect. Don't let them make you think otherwise."
Hermione nodded and flashed the man next to her a brief, small smile.
Ignoring the whispers, the couple followed the stream of people down the long hallway and entered the ballroom which had been transformed into a winter wonderland. Soft white twinkle lights and silky white fabrics hung around the room, while snow magically fell from the ceiling, disappearing before landing on the heads of the guests. Four large ice sculptures, each (rather predictably) of a dragon, were positioned in the four corners of the room, while silver trays of champagne and hors d'oeuvres glided effortlessly between the guests. A tray stopped next to Draco, and he quickly removed two glasses, handing one to Hermione, before the tray moved away.
"My mother certainly loves a party," Draco mumbled before taking a large sip from his glass.
Hermione brought her own glass to her lips and glanced around anxiously as she sipped at her drink. People were definitely staring. She was used to the effect Draco had on women, and so wasn't surprised to see just how many eyes were busy drinking in his form, but what she wasn't prepared for was how many men she caught gawking at her, and she tried to hide herself behind Draco's tall frame.
Draco too had noticed her audience and instinctively tightened his hold on her hand. "I can read their thoughts from here," he said possessively.
Hermione groaned. "It's just the dress," she replied quietly, looking up at him apologetically. "I knew I should have worn something else."
"The dress is perfect, and you are stunning," he said before kissing her softly on the cheek.
Her body tingled as his soft lips hovered against her skin, but she recovered quickly when she remembered how many people were watching them.
"I don't see Harry or Ginny," she said as she continued to scan the room. "At least if they were here, we'd have someone to talk to."
Draco grunted in agreement. While he recognized many of the faces around the room from years of forced socialization as the sole Malfoy heir, he wasn't particularly excited about the prospect of mingling with any of them again. In fact, he had entirely lost his stomach for these kinds of events and couldn't wait to get the hell out of there.
"Fucking hell," he whispered, his eyes suddenly fixed on a figure emerging from the crowd. "Brace yourself," he added as he downed the rest of his glass. Hermione cast her eyes in the direction of his gaze to determine the sudden change in his demeanor, and caught sight of a familiar tall, lanky man approaching them.
"Ahh, Draco," the man said, his voice overly cheerful as he broke free of the crowd, "I didn't think I'd ever see you at one of these again."
"Theo," Draco said, shaking the man's outstretched hand, "It's been a long time. You remember Hermione."
"Of course," Theo responded, bowing politely and winking. "How could I ever forget Gryffindor's princess?"
Draco rolled his eyes. Besides the length of his hair, which was significantly longer than it had been when they were younger, it seemed Theo hadn't changed a bit since he'd seen him last.
"Nice to see you, Theo," Hermione said pleasantly. Theodore Nott had never been particularly nice to her in the past, but then again, neither had Draco, and she had promised herself when Draco had come back into her life that she was done holding grudges based on past childhood behavior.
"So, the rumors are true," Theo continued, his dark blue eyes traveling back and forth between the couple, "You two are an actual item?"
"Obviously," Draco grumbled as he grabbed another glass of champagne as a tray whizzed by him. Hermione eyed him worriedly. She needed to find a way to calm him down before he drained every champagne flute in the room.
"I suppose the picture in the paper should have been the nail in the coffin, but I never really know with you," Theo said as he turned toward Draco, his eyebrows raised. "Even when we were in school, you weren't one to keep romantic partners for very long."
"And how is your love life these days?" Draco retorted, almost angrily. "Still chasing after that god-awful Russian socialite? What was her name again? Natasha? The press sure loved the two of you."
Hermione half expected a fight to break out, but within a matter of seconds, both men were clutching their stomachs and laughing.
Boys, she mumbled to herself.
"It's been too long," Theo managed after recovering, slapping his hand against Draco's back. "Where the fuck have you been?"
"I've been busy saving the world," Draco jested, "or haven't you heard? I'm an Auror now, doing all sorts of good."
Theo snorted and took a swig from his glass. "Oh, I've heard. It's all your father has been able to talk about the past five years. His only son, heir to the Malfoy throne, throwing his life away at the Ministry," he explained, a flicker of humor in his eyes. "I can't wait to see how he takes this," he added gesturing to Hermione.
"I don't bloody well care what he thinks about anything," Draco replied, and this time, there was no missing the anger in his voice.
"Neither will anyone, really," Theo told him, seemingly unperturbed by Draco's change of tone. "You two are the talk of the town. Even Miss soon-to-be a Weasel can't stop talking about you two, and that's saying something. She's here somewhere, so I'd keep your head down if I were you," he paused, cocking his head slightly. "I'm honestly surprised you're both here actually. With all the reporters outside this really is the last place I'd expect you two to be."
"Yeah well, here we are," Draco muttered unhappily.
"We thought it would be a good opportunity to formally announce our new project," Hermione added, glaring at Draco. If he wasn't careful, he was going to give away the fact that their presence here wasn't exactly voluntary.
"Ahh, I see," Theo said, dramatically swirling the drink in his hand as his eyes flickered between the duo. "The Ministry always has liked to use the press to its advantage, why would forcing you two to publicly announce your relationship be any different."
Hermione's mouth fell open in surprise. Did he just…?
"Don't worry, I won't say anything," Theo said, catching the surprise on Hermione's face. "It's not like I have any idea why the Ministry would force you to be here anyways," he continued, still studying her intently. "Plus, this will be so much more fun to watch knowing that you're both hating every minute of it."
"Theo," Draco warned.
Theo turned back toward his old friend and threw his hands up in the air. "You're not the only one who hates these things, mate."
"Yeah, well, why are you here then? Your father left you more than enough money to avoid socializing with these blood-suckers," Draco said angrily, his eyes darting nervously around the room.
The hurt was obvious in Theo's eyes, but however much Draco's words had affected him, he blinked it away quickly.
"Not all of us have been as lucky as you. Befriending Potter and becoming an Auror have done wonders for your image. And now–" he paused, his eyes darting over to Hermione "–dating a member of the famous Golden Trio. You're practically untouchable. Some of us are still working hard to simply not be hated," Theo admitted with an unmistakable sadness.
Even to Hermione, it was obvious that this conversation was long overdue, and despite the tension in the air, she remained quiet, her hoping they could hash it out without causing too much of a scene.
Draco shook his head slowly. "Shit. I shouldn't have–"
"It's alright," Theo interrupted, seemingly uninterested in whatever Draco had to say. "I may not have taken the mark, but my father was probably the worst of the bunch who did. It's poetic really, that his only child will have to spend his entire life trying to clean up all the blood he spilled."
"Theo, I'm sorry," Draco began again. "If I had known how bad things had gotten..."
"Forget it," Theo replied after downing the rest of his drink. "Just maybe don't let it be another ten years before I see you again," he said, tossing his glass on the nearest table. "Nice seeing you, Hermione," he added, nodding at her before quickly walking away.
Draco threw his head back. "I'm an arse," he said, tugging uncomfortably at his collar. "A horrible, insufferable arse."
"You didn't know, Draco," she said quietly, moving a hand to his arm. "He probably just needs a friend. Send him an owl tomorrow when you're not so on edge," she added. "I'm sure it will be easier to talk to him when you two can be alone."
He tipped his head forward, placing a soft kiss on her lips. "Why are you always right?"
"Brightest witch of our age," Hermione retorted, smirking up at him.
"I always knew she'd admit it one day," came a deep voice from behind them.
Draco and Hermione turned to see Harry and Ginny standing behind them.
"Thank Merlin, you're here," Hermione whispered as she rushed over to hug her friends. "I don't know how you make it through these things. They're horrid."
Ginny laughed. "Well, usually alcohol helps, but seeing as that would be frowned upon," she paused, gesturing at her belly. "I have to resort to making up ridiculous back stories about people in the room."
"She's rather good at it," Harry added with a smirk.
The four of them spoke happily for a few minutes, before Harry and Ginny were whisked away to meet visiting members of the French Ministry, leaving Draco and Hermione, once again, treading water amongst a sea of blood-sucking socialites. They moved around the room together, talking politely with guests that approached them, but never allowing themselves to be separated.
Draco clung to Hermione's hand as if she was the only thing capable of keeping him calm and grounded, and in return, she kept her body as close to him as was socially acceptable – although, it close enough that she couldn't keep her thoughts from dangerously wandering. Each time Draco's hands found their way to the small of her back, she felt like her knees would crumble underneath of her, and while she hated the reason for their presence at the banquet, she found herself enjoying being able to be a couple in public.
Despite their shared discomfort, time passed surprisingly quickly. It seemed that with each person they spoke to, the conversation came easier, and more importantly, the game they were playing became a little easier to manage. It wasn't until Harry found them again and reminded them that they would be speaking in a few mintues, that they realized they had managed to make it through the first hour of the banquet without having yet come into contact with either of Draco's parents.
Hermione's heartbeat quickened at the realization, and Draco, sensing her worry, leaned in to tell her that his parents would never lash out at them in public – which, unsurprisingly, did very little to alleviate her nerves.
"They'll save whatever vile words they have for us for when they can get us alone," he explained sadly. "But I won't let them hurt you," he assured her as he intertwined his fingers with hers.
While his promise didn't necessarily make the prospect of seeing his parents any less terrifying, it still comforted her, and she quickly regained a sense, albeit tenuous, of calm.
Draco and Hermione reluctantly moved toward the back of the room where an ornate podium, embellished with a large M, had been placed on a raised platform. As they approached, Hermione finally caught sight of Draco's parents, who were talking quietly with the Minister, and for a second, she forgot the breathe.
Lucius Malfoy had been sentenced to life in Azkaban for his part in the war, but after he provided the Ministry information that aided in the capture of several other high-profile Death Eaters, his sentence was (rather surprisingly, Hermione thought) reduced to five years. Since his release, he had donated a significant amount of money (not that it made much of a dent in the seemingly endless Malfoy fortune) to help rebuild the parts of the country ravaged by the war, and it seemed the Ministry, as short on funds as it was, had decided to tenatively forgive him. Narcissa, on the other hand, had been spared prison time, her lawyers successfully arguing that she had simply been trying to protect her family. Harry's testimony that she had deceived Voldemort during the final battle ultimately led to her pardon, and she had been hailed as an unsuspecting hero by the press.
None of that information made it easier for Hermione to approach, but she allowed Draco to lead her toward them anyways, her arm wound tightly around his.
"Draco. Hermione." Kingsley said when he caught site of the approaching couple. "I hope you've been enjoying yourselves tonight."
"Very much so, Minister," Draco responded. Hermione noted a touch of irritation in his voice, but if Kingsley did as well, he didn't show it.
Neither Lucius nor Narcissa greeted them initially, but Draco didn't seem the least bit bothered by it, and so Hermione tried to swallow her own uneasiness.
"Good, good." Kingsley said as he glanced at the clock on the wall behind him. "Well, I better get this show on the road," he added as he excused himself from the group and stepped up on the platform.
"Oh, Draco!" Narcissa said softly, seemingly having decided it was finally safe to express her affection toward her son. "I'm so happy you came."
Draco allowed his mother to embrace him with a strained smile before reluctantly turning to face the man next to her.
"Father," Draco muttered, bowing his head slightly.
"What an–" Lucius paused, his cold eyes traveling to Hermione, "–unexpected surprise."
"Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy. Thank you for the invitation," Hermione said politely, unsure of what else to say. Draco raised his eyebrows slightly at her words and pulled her closer as if to keep her out of his father's reach.
"The Minister tells us you have an announcement to make," Narcissa said, shooting her husband a look that Hermione assumed was supposed to be a covert warning. "Are you two–?"
"We are dating," Draco interrupted, clearly uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was headed. "We released an official statement about our relationship to the press earlier today, but that's not why we've decided to attend tonight."
"Yes, you two have got yourselves in quite the predicament," Lucius said with a sneer, clearly ignoring his wife's warning. "Tell me Miss Granger, do your parents approve of your recent… extracurricular activities?"
Hermione stiffened at the mention of her parents but recovered quickly. "My parents don't read The Daily Prophet, and even if they did, they would only be concerned to know if I was happy," she said harshly, forgetting she had promised Draco that she would behave.
"Father," Draco growled as Hermione felt his fingers dig into her side.
"Lucius, perhaps we should save this discussion for later tonight," Narcissa said tersely, stepping between her husband and her son.
But before any of them had time to trade any more insults, the Minister's voice could be heard calling the elder two Malfoys onto the stage.
Lucius, who had been glaring angrily at his son, quickly cleared his face of all emotion, offered his arm to his wife, and turned without offering Draco and Hermione so much as a word.
"Don't listen to him," Draco whispered as his parents moved up the small set of stairs on to the stage. "He's just trying to rile you up."
"I know, I'm sorry," Hermione whispered in response.
From their position, they couldn't see the Malfoy patriarch as he gave his speech, but they could certainly hear him, and judging from the applause, the crowd was as fond of Lucius as he was undoubtedly fond of their unyielding attention.
Figures, she thought, rolling her eyes.
When applause once again erupted across the room, she knew their wait was over, and she took one last deep, calming breath. Draco smiled at her as he offered her his arm, and she took it, happy for the distraction, as they moved to replace his parents at the podium while the Minister welcomed them onto the stage. The room quieted quickly as they walked up on to the stage, and Hermione dropped Draco's arm, allowing him to move behind the podium while she moved slightly to the side.
"On behalf of the Ministry, I'd like to thank my parents for hosting this event to raise the much-needed funds for the continued training of the Aurors and other security personnel," Draco began. His voice was calm and powerful, a trait he no doubt inherited from his father, and he slid easily into the role forced on him for the night. "As both a member of the Malfoy family and an Auror who will no doubt benefit from your donations, I'd also like to thank all of you attending tonight." He paused, his eyes moving slowly across the room.
Like father like son, Hermione thought, fighting back an ill-timed chuckle. She definitely wasn't a fan of Lucius, and she undoubtedly would have preferred a Lucius-free life after everything that had happened during the war, but she did have to hand it to him; he had trained Draco well.
"As many of you are aware, I typically leave the fundraising to the experts–" he gestured toward his parents who were standing next to Kingsley on the right side of the stage, "–while I prefer to focus on my work." Laughs broke out across the room, and Hermione finally allowed herself to smile. "The money raised tonight is vitally important for the department I work in, but I am also here for another reason, one that I hope will interest many of you." Draco paused and extended his hand for Hermione to take, which she did, and brought her forward next to him. "Hermione and I are happy to announce our new project, the Rose Foundation, which aims to empower those silenced by unjust rulers and systems around the world and to provide assistance to innocent victims of war."
Hermione smiled again as the crowd clapped. It hadn't taken them long to realize that they could use the media attention surrounding their relationship for some actual good, and Harry, who had made it clear he wasn't happy with Kingsley's stance on them having to flaunt their relationship as if they were two-man, non-musical Broadway show, had happily – and rather illegally – back dated the forms necessary to make it appear as if Draco and Hermione had been planning this announcement for weeks.
"I know many of you have already donated to the fundraiser being held tonight, but I hope that we might be able to convince you to also support a cause that means so much to us both."
Hermione smiled as Draco continued to elegantly summarize the goals of their foundation, her heart beating furiously waiting for the moment she knew was coming next. When it came, she tried to ignore the furious flashes of the cameras as he, just as they had planned, bent over to place a kiss on Hermione's lips before continuing on with his speech.
"Building this foundation brought Hermione and I together," he paused dramatically to squeeze her hand, "and we hope it will unite Wizarding Britain against the atrocities of war."
Raucous applause broke out as Draco stepped away from the podium so that his father could step forward once again to offer a few final words. Kingsley nodded at them as they moved to stand next to him at the back of the stage, quietly mumbling his approval under his breath. Their announcement may not have been exactly what the Minister requested, but even he couldn't argue that it hadn't gone well. What the Malfoys thought of it, however, was likely going to be another matter entirely.
With the speeches finally over, they couple descended the platform and were swarmed by guests eager to speak with them. They did their best to talk with everyone, but when it became clear that there was more interest in their foundation than they had anticipated, Kingsley thankfully stepped in and directed the crowd to his assistant. Fortunately, by the time they managed to maneuver away from the stage, all of the reporters and photographers, who had been let inside for the banquets opening remarks, had been forced back outside. It was a momentary reprieve – owls were undoubtedly already being dispatched carrying requests for interviews – but both Draco and Hermione were thankful for it all the same.
However, before they were able to escape back into the crowd, Narcissa found them and requested that they follow her to Lucius' study for a quick word.
Draco led Hermione down a long hallway and up a set of stairs, keeping them a few steps behind his mother as they walked. Narcissa stopped in front of a large set of wooden doors and pushed them open, revealing a large room whose walls were covered floor to ceiling with stacks of books, and motioned for them to enter. Near the far end of the room, Lucius sat at his desk, a glass of firewhiskey already perched delicately in his pale hands.
"Sit," he ordered as they approached, his hand pointing at two leather chairs in front of the desk. Draco's lips twitched angrily at his father's request, but he nodded at Hermione, indicating for her to take the seat next to him. Narcissa hesitated by Draco's chair, but moved to stand behind her husband, worry already painted across her face.
"I'm glad to see you haven't lost your touch," Lucius began, his eyes fixed on Draco. "That was quite the show you put on."
"I learned from the best," Draco replied, rising to his father's challenge with relative ease.
"The public affection was a bit over the top, but luckily for you, it was well received," Lucius continued. "Am I correct to assume that you would like to officially start courting Miss Granger for marriage?"
"No," Draco said quickly. "There will be no courting. We are happy with the current state of our relationship, and we do not wish to further complicate it with outdated ritual and ceremony."
"I see," Lucius said, a flash of anger crossing his eyes. "And what does Miss Granger think of this arrangement?" he asked, finally turning his attention to Hermione.
"I agree with Draco," she replied, careful to keep her response brief. She didn't particularly like Lucius' tone, or anything about him for that matter, but she also didn't want to make the conversation harder for Draco.
"I can't say your mother and I are pleased with your decision to dismiss our traditions, but seeing as your previous relationships have all ended in failure," Lucius paused to glare at his son, making it clear what he thought about the two of them together, "we won't be surprised when this one does as well."
Draco curled his fists in anger, but for the moment, remained silent.
"We ask in the meantime that you not embarrass the family any further and keep your sexual dalliances confined to the bedroom," Lucius added harshly.
"You may ask nothing of us," Draco nearly spat, his anger suddenly growing beyond his control. "And I am not asking you for permission. We do not need your blessing. Hermione is my girlfriend, and if either of you wish to see me again, you will treat her with respect."
Hermione instinctively reached her hand out, placing it over Draco's fist. For a moment, he didn't react, but she relaxed slightly when she felt his hand relax and turn to interlock with hers.
"Lucius," Narcissa spoke quietly. Her eyes were dating between the two men, and Hermione could see the pain in her eyes as she struggled to remain neutral. "Draco has made it clear that he doesn't want to be beholden to the Malfoy traditions, perhaps it is time that we accept that."
"I did not raise my son to turn his back on his family," Lucius said angrily.
"I wouldn't have to, if you would accept my conditions for being a part of it," Draco replied, his eyes dark. "I will not allow myself or Hermione to be chained to things that I no longer believe in."
"I'm sure you know our commitment to a pureblood lineage is no longer as important as it once was," Narcissa told him.
"Isn't it?" Draco retorted, snorting in disbelief.
Lucius took a large swig from his glass before slamming it down angrily.
"You forget your place, boy," Lucius bellowed.
"And you forget that you no longer have any control over me. The Ministry saw to that upon my return," Draco responded quickly, alluding to the fact that his father retained no control over his inheritance nor his rights to Malfoy Manor, not that he wanted any of it.
The two men glared at each other, neither willing to back down, while Hermione and Narcissa glanced at each other in a strange moment of solidarity.
"We have guests to attend to, Narcissa," Lucius said finally, turning toward his wife. "I have nothing more to say to him," he added as he stood up from his position behind his desk and stormed out of the room.
"Draco," Narcissa whispered. "I will speak with–"
"Don't bother," Draco interrupted. "We don't plan on returning. As always, it's been a pleasure speaking with you both."
Hermione couldn't help but feel terribly for the woman in front of her. It was clear she was much more willing to put their differences aside for the sake of her relationship with her son, but Lucius certainly wasn't helping matters.
"The lock on the door is still enchanted," Narcissa said quietly, her eyes filled with anguish as she turned to leave. "Try not to stay in here for too long. I don't know how long I'll be able to keep him away."
"Thank you," Hermione offered as the witch turned to follow her husband.
"It was nice to see you both," Narcissa added before shutting the door.
As soon as they were alone, Draco dropped his head in his hands and groaned.
"Well, that went about as swimmingly as I could have imagined," he said lifting his head to look at Hermione, his face still flush from his argument with his father. "I'm sorry you had to be here for that."
Knowing that words weren't going to help him, Hermione stood up and moved in front of him, lifting him to his feet so that she could pull him in for a kiss.
"I think I know what might make you feel better," she said as she slipped her wand out of its hiding place and vanished her gown away.
Due to the cut of the dress, she had forgone any undergarments, and she smirked as Draco gawked at her sudden state of undress.
"What are–?" he began, but Hermione silenced him with another kiss.
"Just lock the door, Malfoy," she said, licking her lips.
Despite his initial confusion, he nearly fell over as he removed his own wand from his pocket, turning the lock at the other side of the room with a flick of his wrist. Hermione, meanwhile, perched herself on top of the large desk and motioned for Draco to join her. He discarded his wand on the ground and quickly removed his clothing as he walked toward her, stopping in front of her wearing nothing but his briefs.
"I don't deserve you," he mumbled as he moved between her legs, his thumbs brushing against her already hardened nipples.
"Of course you do," Hermione replied, her slender fingers tugging eagerly at his waistband. "Now, let's defile the fuck out of this desk."
Draco quickly removed his last remaining article of clothing before roughly crashing their lips together. His sudden need for her was overwhelming all of his senses, and he moaned her name as she stroked his hardened length and positioned it near her center.
His need for a hard, fast release was obvious, and Hermione said the words that he needed to hear. "Don't hold back," she whispered as his lips sucked at the skin below her ear. "You won't hurt me," she added when he pulled back and looked at her with surprise.
Draco stared at her for a moment, his eyes moving slowly over her face as if he was searching for any sign of unease, but when he didn't find any, he entered her in one rough thrust.
Hermione gasped audibly as he filled her. His nails were digging into her hips, but she didn't care. He paused long enough to allow her to wrap her legs around his waist before he began thrusting, moving at a pace that if it weren't for his hold on her would have thrown her off the desk. Each movement sent a wave of pleasure through her body, and her head fell back as she moaned his name, her legs already shaking from an imminent climax. She reached her peak more quickly than she had ever thought possible, screaming his name so loudly that Draco moved a hand to cover her mouth as her body convulsed with the intoxicating waves of her orgasm.
In a matter of seconds, Draco pulled himself out of her and flipped her over on the desk so that her upper body was sprawled across the soft wood and her bare arse was facing him. He didn't wait for her to recover before he entered her again and began pounding relentlessly, and she allowed him to take what he needed from her. She felt a sharp pain each time his thrust sent her hips slamming against the hard edge of the desk, but she ignored it, instead savoring the feeling of his flesh moving vigorously inside of her. She knew he was close, and so when she turned her head to look at him, she knew exactly what she was doing when she begged him to go harder.
A growl escaped Draco's throat at her words, and he increased his thrusts to a pace that he wouldn't be able to sustain for long. His entire body was screaming in a strange combination of fury and pleasure, and it was exhilarating. Within a minute, it was his turn to cry out in ecstasy, and his hips jerked uncontrollably as he came hard inside of her. Entirely spent, he collapsed on top of her, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair for a few moments before reluctantly pulling himself out and falling to the floor.
Hermione followed moments later, leaning her head against his shoulder as they both recovered. In response, Draco wrapped an arm around her, his heart still beating furiously as he closed his eyes and relaxed into the feel of her against his body.
"Thank you," he said finally, opening his eyes to admire the woman next to him.
Hermione hummed in response, her fingers tracing an invisible line across his chest.
His eyes suddenly caught sight of the bruises that were quickly forming at her hips, and he swallowed heavily. "Fuck, I hurt you," he said, his hands hovering over the hip closest to him
"Hazards of the job," Hermione quipped, lifting her head to look at him. When Draco's eyes didn't soften, she moved to the side of his face. "Draco, I'm fine."
"But I–"
"Shhh," she whispered, silencing him. "You're ruining it."
Despite his concern, she was clearly unbothered, and his features softened as she smiled softly at him. "I suppose he deserved that," he chuckled, referring to what they had just done in his father's study. "That desk will never be the same."
Hermione smiled wickedly. "Nope. Sullied forever."
They sat there for a few minutes in contended silence, willing their heartbeats to slow, before he helped her off the floor and Accio'd their clothing. They dressed slowly, watching each other intently as they returned their appearances to normal. When they were both fully dressed, and significantly less flushed thanks to Hermione's skill with beauty charms, Draco pulled her in for one last private kiss.
"Hell of a party," he said with a smirk before grabbing ahold of her hand and walking back down to the ballroom a much happier and calmer man.
a/n: I really hope I did Lucius justice in this one – he always was one of my favorite bad guys in the books. You'll be seeing more of him in the future, so don't be too sad if you were wanting a bit more.