A/N: *waves hello*
I don't have much to say about the chapter, other than that things are starting to look up for our present Draco and Hermione, but slowly going up in flames in the past.
Please excuse me for not responding to comments this week. I had a horrible bout of flu that turned out to be covid, and I spent most of the week in bed.
Songs to listen to:
You Me At Six - Traumatic Iconic
Switchfoot - Learning to breathe
The Script - Man on a wire
Fuel - Hemorrhage
Theory of a Deadman - Wait for me
Matchbox Twenty - Bent
Anna of the North - I do you
Chapter 18:
November 2005:
Hermione
I can't believe that in a week, the Championships will be over.
It's been three weeks of non-stop training, strict diets, no alcohol, and absolutely no treats. Turpin watches everyone—even Theo, Anthony and me—like hawks at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The team, staff included, go for a long run every morning at six, and I think I would have been consumed by nerves many times over had it not been for the daily exercise. There's no better way to burn off stress.
Although we've been having the time of our lives playing Quidditch in the first-ever Interschool Championships, I can't wait to get back to Hogwarts. Back to my normal routine.
The coffee is terrible here, just in case you wondered, and the food is no way near as delicious as it is at Hogwarts.
You better be welcoming me back with an armful of candy, because I will be overdosing on anything remotely sweet when I get back. And I'm craving Beef Wellington, like the ones you used to make for us when we lived in Portland.
As you probably know, Monday is the start of the semi-finals, and on Tuesday, we'll be playing against Mahoutokoro again. I have a sneaking suspicion that we'll be facing Castelobruxo in the final if we beat Mahoutokoro, and that will be the toughest final imaginable. The Castelobruxo team are excellent, and as much as I hate to say it, there's a good chance we'll be coming home without the Championship cup, but you can be sure that we'll go down fighting.
On a lighter note, Anthony and Lisa agreed to cover for Theo and me today after our practice session. We'll be heading out to sightsee and hit the pub later. Last weekend, Theo and I stayed behind and sneaked in some extra practice time with the team while Anthony and Lisa took the day off.
Things between Anthony and Camille are going well. Believe it or not, they're already making plans to get together over Christmas. He says he'll probably head over to France since it's only proper that he meet her parents before she makes the trip to England.
Malik and Bailey have been getting along better lately. I think she just needed him to show her that his intentions were not to mess with her. That being said, I'm keeping a close eye on them; on all the students, actually. I made them all promise not to play musical beds the very first day we arrived here, and so far, so good. Unless they're being very discreet. But the team are truly on their best behaviour. They're studying often, training very hard without complaint, and they are focused. I don't think I could have picked a better group of students to represent Hogwarts.
Theo sends his love. We're heading to breakfast in a minute, and soon after, we'll have a training session. Then it'll be just Theo and me seeing what wizarding Massachusetts has to offer.
See you soon, Hermione
X
Draco
xxx
Breakfast was a jovial affair. The students were looking forward to the weekend, and as much as they'd been enjoying the Championships, Draco noticed a restlessness in them to get the semis and final over so they could go home.
As excited as he was to sleep in his own bed, have his own space back, and enjoy some peace and quiet, he was equally as nervous.
He knew when he got home, he had a choice to make: move on from Hermione, or make a conscious effort at rebuilding their relationship.
"You're having carbs? Really, Draco?" Turpin admonished when he piled eggs, sausage, beans and toast onto his plate, his stomach growling. "Do you have any idea what bread does to your body?"
Draco glanced around to make sure no one would overhear him when he gave Turpin a piece of his mind. Only Theo was paying attention, the rest of the team, including Anthony and Camille, was deep in conversation.
"First of all, Turpin, I'm not a bloody child," he said in a low voice. "I train just as hard alongside the team every day and I'm not the one competing, so if I want a piece of toast, I will have it."
Theo grinned into his glass of orange juice.
"And second of all, I don't recall you complaining about my body even once. Especially not when you were licking your way down my abs a few months ago when you came to my office."
Theo choked on his mouthful of juice and spluttered all over his breakfast plate.
Draco slapped Theo on the back a few times to help him clear his airway and handed him a napkin to wipe his chin. "All right there, mate?"
Theo wiped his face and vanished his plate with a wave of his hand. "Yeah, fine," he croaked and cocked a brow in reprehension.
Draco shrugged unapologetically and returned his gaze to Turpin. "Anything else you wanted to say?"
She flushed, shook her head and dropped her eyes to her plate, suddenly very interested in her kale, chickpea and avocado salad.
Draco had had just about enough of her disdainful looks and barbed comments when it came to his meal choices.
If he poured himself a cup of coffee at breakfast, or even so much as looked in the direction of the desserts they served after dinner each evening, Lisa would go off on a tangent.
He was fitter than he'd been in a very long time, and today had been the first time in three weeks that he'd indulged in bread. So, she could go and fuck right off for all he cared. He wanted toast today, and he'd be damned if she stopped him.
So, with as much moaning and sighing, Draco practically made love to his eggs on toast, shooting Turpin withering looks whenever she looked like she was about to say something on the matter again.
xxx
"Right, boys and girls," Draco clapped his hands together to get the team's attention. He had his broom clenched between his thighs to hold himself upright in the air, hovering in between his players. "The good news is, we've played Mahoutokoro already, and we know their weaknesses and strengths. The bad news is that they know ours too."
Every player's eyes were trained on him as he spoke.
"Tanaka is damn fast," he said and looked at the team's captain and seeker, Jaya Malik. "He's the only other seeker with speed to match yours, Malik. So, you will need to be even faster and more precise than usual."
Next, he turned his attention to his beaters, Ryan Reed and Logan Davis. "Kaneko is slow and easily distracted, but you'll have to keep an eye on him. Once he puts his club to a bludger, you'll have to stop it from reaching our players. That applies to the whole team. Watch out for bludgers."
The last thing he needed was to lose one of his players. They were all important, and their whole team's equilibrium would be off with one missing.
"Kim," Draco directed his broom slightly to the left to face the team's keeper. "Ito favours the left and middle hoops because he's left-handed and deceptively accurate with his non-dominant hand as well. You will have to find a way to guard all the goalposts at once. Be prepared for the quaffle to take any direction."
Kim nodded, as did the rest of the players.
"Wellsley," Draco said softened just a little when he turned his attention to his youngest player. "Don't let me catch you taking a beating from Fujiwara like you did last time. I know you don't want to afford the team any unnecessary fouls, but that girl obviously has it out for you. So if she tries any of her shit like the last time-"
Goldstein cleared his throat loudly, cautioning Draco to mind his language around the students.
"Yes, sorry," he apologized half-heartedly. "If Fujiwara tries any of her nonsense," he paused to look at Goldstein for approval and received a nod in response, "You show her the things you've learned growing up with four older brothers. Got that?"
"Yes, sir!" Wellsley grinned deviously. "I won't hold back this time."
"Good. That's what I want to hear." He gave a firm nod of approval. "Now that we've addressed my biggest concerns, let's get to work on our passes and scoring."
xxx
"Jesus!" Theo exclaimed and ducked to dodge a bludger from Reed as it came whirring past his ear fifteen minutes into practice. "Fantastic force, but your aim is shit!" he shouted at the seventh-year beater.
"Don't let Goldstein hear you swear," Draco smirked.
They were following the players as they worked on their techniques, the beaters hitting bludgers toward each other, the chasers practising their passes and scoring alongside their keeper.
Theo and Draco drifted off to the outskirts of the pitch to avoid more close calls with the bludgers, keeping an eye on any areas where the players needed guidance.
Malik zoomed around the pitch, chasing the snitch while simultaneously perfecting her already-stellar Wronski feint. She was in tip-top shape and was ruthlessly focused. As was Bailey.
Draco had to admit that he was pleasantly surprised by this as Malik and Bailey were starting to spend more time together.
Instead of kissing, flirting and canoodling, he often found them sitting together on one of their beds in the dorm, or pressed shoulder to shoulder on one of the many couches in the common room, talking strategy or studying.
There were a few times when Draco had seen them holding hands, but that was the worst of it.
Malik and Bailey's restraint was impressive, almost as if they were determined to give the Championships and the accompanying responsibilities their all until they could finally relax and turn their attention to their delicately unfurling relationship.
He supposed they hadn't been picked as head girl and head boy for nothing. They had their priorities straight. And watching as things developed was sort of...beautiful.
Draco's attention was forced back to Wellsley as she zoomed past them with alarming speed, her wrist twisting at a strange angle before her arm shot out and she flung the quaffle through the left hoop, while Draco had been expecting her to shoot through the middle or right hoop.
Kim had veered to the right and middle hoops, just as Draco would have done, affording Wellsley a clear opening to score a goal.
His stomach swooped at the possibilities this new move of Wellsley presented.
And so, with the rest of the team's eyes inadvertently following, Draco spent the rest of practice helping Wellsley work on her new, game-changing move.
xxx
"That was some practice session, wasn't it?" Theo asked as he and Draco, freshly showered and smartly dressed, made their way out of the front doors of the school.
"Yeah," Draco barked a laugh, still floored by Wellsley's curveballs. "I had no idea Brooke had such a fucking ace up her sleeve," he said and grinned at Theo. "Gives me hope that we'll actually make it through the final and snatch the Championship cup right out from under Castelobruxo's noses if we can just beat Mahoutokoro first.
"Are you going to let her use that trick against Mahoutokoro on Tuesday?" Theo asked as they trudged through the thick patches of snow toward the apparition point.
"No," he firmly shook his head. "As much as I would like to, I don't want Castelobruxo to catch wind of it until it's too late. They'll be watching our game against Mahoutokoro with scrupulous attention. And I know they'll notice. I would very much like to take them by surprise. Shake their confidence and then kick their arses."
"I agree," Theo hummed. "We'll need every bit of an edge on Castelobruxo as we can get."
The town was bustling when Draco and Theo apparated to the designated apparition point on the main street.
The cobblestone streets were flanked by a multitude of shops on either side, large windows displaying all that they offered to the locals and tourists passing by.
When Draco spotted a bookshop a few feet away, he made his way over with Theo hot on his heels.
"You want to browse for books?" Theo asked with a pout, "I thought we were going to have fun today."
"We are," Draco placated. "But I just want to buy Granger a book about the history of Ilvermorny. I know how much she adores her tattered copy of Hogwarts: A History. And I think she'd be similarly interested in the one about the American wizarding school."
"Oh..." Theo perked up, giving Draco a blithe grin. "Are you considering rekindling your romance again?"
"Maybe..." Draco chewed his cheek and shrugged. "I'm still deciding. But I'm leaning toward yes at this point." He stopped at the front door of the bookshop to look at Theo. "Her letters have been very friendly lately. And each of her responses to the ones I write to her is longer than the previous letters." He looked down at his feet, "I'm just...trying to be careful about it. Not only for me but for her, too. I don't want to give her false hope if, in the end, I realize that I can't get over our past long enough to trust her not to walk away again."
"I suppose that's fair," Theo agreed with a sage nod. "Do you think she's forgiven you for what happened at the Halloween ball?"
"Judging by her responses, I think so. Maybe. But knowing Granger the way I do, she'll most likely not forget about it. She'll probably bust my nuts about it again at some point, and I don't blame her. As good as it felt to have sex with her after all these years, and even though not a day goes by that I don't think about it, I know it was a shitty way to treat her."
Theo listened attentively, not saying anything.
"I just...I can't seem to control my mouth around her. I have fuck all control over myself when she's near me. But I can't seem to get over her. Especially now that she's back at Hogwarts. I thought perhaps the time apart these four weeks would help me get a grip on myself and move on...but it's not working."
"Then give it another go when you get back," Theo encouraged, "Take it as slow as you need to. But talk to her. Tell her where you're at and when you're struggling, or you'll scare her off the moment you start having doubts or feel overwhelmed. Because let's face it, you know it's going to happen. There's too much damage not to hit a bump or two along the way. But that's normal, and you need to do your best not to give up too easily."
Draco bought Granger the book he wanted to surprise her with and then Theo and he went to see the waterfalls from Webster's bend: a massive curved bridge that spanned a river of icy water.
As the snow melted on the edges of Mount Greylock, it created the most magnificent waterfalls.
They spent a good fifteen minutes just standing in front of the candy shop, staring longingly at the vast array of treats that the shop sported, but refrained from going in. Once inside and enveloped in the sweet scent of the shop, they knew they wouldn't be able to walk out without buying at least one item.
They grabbed dinner at a quaint little bistro called Greylock's Belly and then went to the local pub for a few drinks before they had to head back.
There were two pretty witches at a small table near the bar who looked up when Theo and Draco entered and made their way over to the bar.
He didn't pay them any mind as he perched himself on a tall barstool beside Theo and ordered two drinks from the bartender. He hadn't bargained with Anthony and Lisa for a day off with his best friend just so he could seek out the company of a witch's bed for some fun. He wanted to relax and talk shit with Theo and just forget the stress of the Championships for one night.
"Man," Draco sighed, looking forlornly at his pint of apple beer. "This stuff isn't half bad, but what I wouldn't give for a stiff glass of firewhisky."
"I hear you." Theo pouted and lifted his glass in acknowledgement. "Just one more week, yeah? Almost there."
"Mmhmm," Draco hummed. "It's ridiculous how much I miss my quarters at Hogwarts. My own bed, the food, decent coffee and a proper glass of Ogden's every now and then."
Theo's eyes drifted over Draco's shoulder before he leaned in to say, "That brunette over there has been eyeing you for the last half hour."
Draco followed Theo's gaze when he nudged his chin in the direction of a pretty witch with raven hair and blue eyes in a tiny, skin-tight electric pink dress.
The witch caught his eye, smirked and got out of her chair. She licked her glossy lips and sauntered over to them with a saucy gait, her tits dangerously close to popping out of her dress.
Her red-haired friend followed closely behind.
He groaned inwardly. Was it too much to ask for a chill guys' night out?
While Theo was distracted, Draco transformed an apple beer bottlecap into a wedding ring and slipped it onto his ring finger as inconspicuously as he could manage.
He wasn't in the mood to flirt tonight, no matter how innocently or platonically. And a wedding ring would let the witch off the hook gently, without too much of a kick to the self-esteem.
He didn't know when he'd become such a pussy that a casual hook-up didn't pique his interest, but when he imagined falling into bed with a witch for a proper fuck, all he wanted was for it to be with Granger.
"Hey," the brunette said in a strong American accent and batted her lashes at Draco while she slipped into a chair beside him. "I'm Shaylee, and this..." she motioned to her friend standing next to her, "Is Carli."
"Nice to meet you," Draco said and shook both girls' hands. "I'm Draco, and this here is Theo." He pointed in his best friend's direction.
"Oh, my gods!" Carli practically swooned, "You're British..."
"We are, indeed," Theo smirked and gave the witch a salacious wink.
"Are you two going to buy us a drink so we can get on with a bit of flirting before you take me home for the night, or should we go back to eye fucking each other from across the room?" Shaylee asked.
Draco coughed a surprised laugh and Theo grinned into his glass of apple beer, both taken aback by the balls on this witch.
"A drink. Sure," he agreed politely, a plan forming in his head. An easy solution to get the message across that he wasn't interested. "Why not?" He flagged down the bartender with his left hand, and when he ordered their drinks, he strategically slid the required coins across the dark wood of the bar top with his left hand pressed flat over the money, praying that Shaylee noticed the ring.
It worked.
"You're married?" she pouted. "What a bummer. I was so looking forward to a long, mind-blowing night in bed with you. You look like the kind of wizard who knows what he's doing."
"Oh, he wouldn't have been able to, even if he weren't married," Theo cut in. "We're here on a school trip for the Quidditch Championships. And we stay in the same dorm as the students..." he lied.
"Too bad," Shaylee was still pouting.
"You're not married too, are you?" Carli asked with hopeful eyes, leaning closer to Theo. "You could come over to my apartment. I don't have any roommates."
"I'm not married, no," Theo chuckled. "But I'm afraid you've got the wrong body parts to pique my interest, love."
"Oh, come on!" Carli groaned. "Two incredibly sexy wizards, British no less, and you're not up for grabs. Such a shame."
"If it's any consolation," Theo placated, "Had I been interested in women, I would have had you screaming my name all night long."
"Oh, gods..." Carli sighed dramatically. "You're sexy enough as it is. But coupled with that accent and the dirty words coming from your mouth, it's enough to make a witch weep with lust."
"It was nice meeting you," Shaylee said, grabbed her drink from the bar and lifted it at Draco and Theo. "Thanks for the drinks. And good luck with the Championships."
"Merlin," Theo laughed when they made their way out of the bar and into the frosty evening air a couple of hours later, the door snapping shut behind them. "That was interesting."
"It's been a while since I've been propositioned so boldly," Draco chuckled and buttoned up his jacket and slipped on his gloves. "I think the last time was when Lisa waited naked on my desk and spread her legs in invitation. But it's good to know that I haven't completely lost my mojo."
Even the other night when Lisa had crawled into his bed hadn't felt as bold as that night in his office or Shaylee's straightforward proposal tonight.
"Yes, well..." Theo mockingly rolled his eyes. "How could any witch resist you? You are a handsome fucking arsehole, aren't you?"
"True," Draco conceded with a smug grin. "That's why you're my best mate. Birds of a feather, and all that..."
Theo gasped dramatically and pointed a finger at him. "That was a compliment. Oh, Salazar, Draco. What's gotten into you?"
"Don't be ridiculous. It wasn't a compliment," he denied airily but grinned despite himself.
"You know..." Theo tipped his head to the side, watching Draco intently. "I'm proud of you for turning that witch down back there." He pointed his thumb over his shoulder. "A few weeks ago, you would have taken her up against a wall in some dark alley next to the pub and then fucked off to your bed alone afterwards."
Draco conceded with a cock of his head. "Most likely, yeah."
"And you know I would have had your back no matter what you chose to do tonight. Although I would have been disappointed."
"Why disappointed?" he asked even though he thought he knew the answer already.
Theo humoured him regardless. "Because I'll eternally be rooting for you and Granger to work things out. But that's just because I want to see you happy. And she used to do that for you. Although judging by the smile on your face when you read her letters, I'd say you're slowly getting back to that point again."
That got Draco thinking...
Even after a long, hot shower, a cup of tea and a cigarette, he was still lying awake while everyone else was sound asleep.
He was staring up at the vaulted ceiling, thinking that it had been a while since something had genuinely made him smile. And he'd started looking forward to things again, little by little, day by day. Getting up in the mornings. Getting owls from Hermione. The Quidditch Championships. Coping from one day to the next with her in his life (sort of) without having to get completely sloshed every night. The idea of getting to see Hermione again when he got back. Hugging her. Inhaling her scent.
And he was definitely going to ask her on a date when he got back. If that's something she wanted too. He just didn't know where they'd go from there. If they'd even get along again after everything that happened between them. If they'd still click aside from their overwhelming, ceaseless sexual chemistry. What if they had nothing in common anymore? Five years was a long time, and people changed. Could they fall in love with each other as the people they'd become, and not as the people they were?
But moreover, if they were compatible now, would he be able to trust her not to fuck him up again? Would he be able to hand over what was left of his heart, giving her the choice to treasure or break it?
**FLASHBACK**
Beginning of May 2000:
Draco was greeted enthusiastically by Looksy when he arrived at the Manor on Monday morning.
Hermione was at work, finishing off a few last arrangements before they would be moving into the Manor tomorrow. Both Hermione and he had been able to extend their internships by a few months, but she had asked if she could finish her theoretical part during the time she'd be staying in London. She said she wanted to keep herself busy.
Her mentor had arranged for her to submit her theoretical work at Gringotts until she moved back to Portland permanently.
He'd finished his arrangements on Friday, and he didn't have the time right now to focus on his mastery. He had enough on his plate.
He planned to sort through all of the company and estate's arrangements as quickly as he could, stay abreast of his father's health and treatment plan, and then move back home with Hermione once they could manage.
Draco knew this was going to be a test for their marriage; knew Hermione would be feeling the pressure. And frankly, so would he. He didn't want to make it harder on her than necessary.
Coincidentally, this was part of the reason he chose to meet with his parents for breakfast this morning. To let them know they'd be moving in tomorrow, but also to chat about their attitudes toward his wife while they'd be residing in the Manor.
"Good morning, Mother," Draco greeted Narcissa with a kiss on the cheek and rounded the dining table to his father's side.
His father did look sick. His face was pale, dark circles lined his eyes, and his hair, normally vibrant and healthy, was hanging limply past his shoulders.
As always, his father was dressed in pristine robes of the finest material money could buy, but when Lucius stood up, Draco could see the way the robes hung loosely from his father's frame. He leaned heavily on his walking stick, and there was a tremble to his hand when he held it out to Draco in greeting.
"Father," Draco acknowledged in as steady a voice as he could manage, and schooled his features. He knew his father wouldn't appreciate pity, but it was obvious that Lucius Malfoy wasn't healthy. "Welcome home."
"I assume from your visit that I could say the same?"
"Yes. That's why I'm here this morning. But we will discuss the matter in a minute. How are you feeling?"
Lucius motioned for Draco to take a seat and did the same. "As well as can be expected, I suppose." He pursed his lips and shifted to get settled in his chair.
His father scrutinized him for a moment while his mother summoned Looksy to serve breakfast. "The fact that you've come to help with the company and the estate is an enormous weight off of your mother's and my shoulders. That is all the help I require at present." With a level gaze, he continued, "I appreciate your willingness to uproot your life to help me get my affairs in order."
It was a subtle dig at Draco because he hadn't said goodbye before he and Hermione left for Portland after graduation. And he hadn't informed his parents of his plans, either. But he supposed his parents were handling the 'betrayal' rather well, all things considered.
"It's no trouble at all, Father."
The breakfast appeared in front of them.
"I hear from your mother that congratulations are in order?"
His mother scoffed loudly, but looked down at the silver cloche before her and lifted it to reveal her breakfast when his father's gaze briefly flicked to her.
"I believe you married Hermione Granger, yes?" Still, his father showed no expression or emotion. Either his father was occluding very hard, or he was trying to be accepting of Draco's choices in light of his illness and eventual death. Draco sincerely hoped it was the latter.
"That's correct." He remained cool and straight-faced, waiting on a reaction from his father.
"She will be moving in with us as well, yes?"
Draco nodded.
"Very well," his father said. "As long as you understand that this does not change the terms of your inheritance. You have already forfeited your portion by moving out of the Manor and choosing not to marry a pure-blood witch within the allotted timeframe."
"I do." Draco tried his best not to clench his teeth, but his hands curled into fists under the table. Hermione was worth giving up all of his inheritance, and he would do it again in a heartbeat.
"As much as I wish I could amend your inheritance contract, it was signed in your mother's and my blood, and there is no way to circumvent the stipulations."
Draco doubted his father felt sorry for the end result, even though he was appearing very composed and reasonable today. Lucius Malfoy most likely relished Draco's punishment; relished him forfeiting his inheritance for disobeying.
He nodded his acknowledgement and refrained from commenting on his father's statement. Instead, he addressed the most important reason for his sitting down face-to-face with his parents. "I would like to ask that, while we're here, you try your best to refrain from insulting Hermione. And I ask that you please treat her with respect. Her agreement to move to the Manor with me is a big sacrifice for her, considering what she experienced in our home."
Lucius nodded sagely and steepled his fingers beneath his chin. He looked almost…understanding…of the situation. And he seemed to truly consider Draco's request. "I will be on my best behaviour."
"You will?" he asked his father, surprised.
Lucius sighed. "As much as Miss Granger is not my ideal choice as your bride, the fact that she makes you happy is enough for me."
"Lucius…" Narcissa hissed. "You cannot be serious." His mother's outrage was palpable. But as much as he'd expected his mother to be unhappy about his choice of wife, he'd expected worse from his father.
This whole situation felt strange to him.
His father gave his mother a look so cutting that Draco was surprised she wasn't bleeding out on the floor.
"Finding out that my time is limited has changed my perspective on life and has caused me to re-evaluate my priorities, of which your happiness is at the top of the list."
"Thank you." Draco released a slow breath. Coming here today, his father's willingness to make Hermione feel welcome and comfortable during their stay had been his biggest hurdle.
"When will you and your..." his mother clenched her teeth, "Wife…be moving to the Manor?"
"Tomorrow, if that suits you and Father?"
"I suppose the sooner the better. Your time spent with the mudblood is certainly showing. It will do you good to be back in your own environment. Polish your manners and table etiquette (a dig at finding him eating Hermione out on their dining table) to resemble those of a proper pure-blood wizard."
Draco dropped his knife and fork with a clatter, sighing with frustration. "This is exactly the type of barbed comments and disdain I would like you to refrain from while Hermione and I are staying here."
Narcissa glared at him.
"Your mother will be nothing but polite and accommodating. The perfect hostess and mother-in-law," his father assured him, and once again turned his gaze to Narcissa. "Isn't that right, dear?"
She shot his father a venomous look but then arranged her features into a facetiously placid mask, smiling sweetly, "Of course, darling."
xxx
When he got home from the Manor later that afternoon, Hermione was sitting cross-legged in the centre of their bed, suitcases stacked around her. Most of them were already full of her clothes.
But it wasn't her packing chaos that gave him pause. Instead, it was the sight of her paging through their wedding album that rooted him to the spot.
"Everything all right, love?" he asked cautiously, feeling the slow, malignant twist of dread behind his sternum like a warning that he was making the wrong decision for them.
"Yeah," she nodded her head, voice sounding pathetically small. Her honey eyes were wide and terrified and it gutted him. "I was just looking at our wedding photos. I needed to remind myself why I'm going back to the Manor."
One by one, Draco removed the suitcases from their bed, placed them on the floor, and settled himself beside her. He wrapped an arm around her, pulled her into his side and kissed the top of her head. "Did it help?"
She pressed her face into his neck and inhaled a long drag of his scent. She nodded again. "Yes. It did. It made me realize that I'd do anything you asked of me. Go anywhere as long as I get to be with you."
Fuck!
He didn't deserve her.
Moreover, she didn't deserve to be put through all of this shit.
"You and me forever, babe," he promised, squeezing her just a little tighter. For some reason, he couldn't alleviate the chokehold of doubt that constricted his lungs. Was he making a mistake moving them to the Manor? Was he being the selfish one?
He opened his mouth to tell her to unpack her bags. That he didn't have the heart to put her through this. To remind her that she was much more important to him than his own parents. He'd find another way to handle the situation with his father.
But she spoke first. "Promise me that we'll be okay, Draco," she begged him, pulling out of their embrace to look imploringly at him. She took his hand, laced their fingers together and gave a firm squeeze. "Promise they'll never break us."
His heart shattered for her.
"Hermione…" he breathed her name and cupped her cheek with his free hand. "I want you to listen to me very, very carefully when I say this…"
She nodded; eyes fixed on him.
"I love you way too fucking much to let anyone come between us. The only way I'll ever let you go is if you say you don't want me anymore."
Her eyes welled with tears, one slipping free to roll down her cheek. She let slip a mixture between a sob and a laugh. "Then you need to understand that you'll never get rid of me, babe, because my terms are the same as yours."
"Good." He sighed his relief and touched his lips to hers for the softest, most intimate kiss. All he needed in this entire world was her. Everything else was just a bonus. He'd fucking starve, as long as he got to keep her. "I like the idea of forever with you. I made a promise to you on our wedding day, and I'm not going to break it. There will never be anyone that I love as much as you."
"You will, someday…" she challenged and stole a kiss from him. "When we decide to have children."
"That may be true," he conceded and coaxed her onto her back. "But not for a few more years." And then he lowered himself over her and pressed his body against hers.
"Agreed," she said and wrapped her legs around his hips.
She gasped so beautifully for him when he pushed his hardening cock between her thighs, hungry for the feel of her heavenly heat around him.
"Let's forget about everything that comes with tomorrow, hmm?" he asked. "Because I want to make love to you right now. Until you understand that you're the only person in this world who matters more to me than my own life. And I'll keep showing you until there's no doubt in your mind that you're the best thing that's ever happened to me."
"Okay," she agreed and cupped his cheek, eyes trained intently on him. She looked so serious in that moment.
He gripped her blouse and ripped it open, buttons popping free to skitter across the floor. Her gasp and subsequent smirk told him he'd succeeded in taking her mind off of their impending move for the moment.
Good.
"Where are your heels, wife?" he asked and pulled the white lace of her bra cups down to free her breasts for him.
When her nipples tightened under his scrutiny, he dipped his head and closed his lips around one of the pink peaks and sucked hard, unable to help himself.
"Oh god, Draco," she whimpered and arched her back to push her perfect breasts closer to his mouth in a plea for more. "It's on the floor…I think."
"Summon them for me, baby. I want you to put them on for me. Only the heels."
"You'll have to let me up if you want me to remove my clothes."
He ground his hips into her, one hand slipping between them to unbutton her denims. With a little help from Hermione, he quickly rid her of her denims and her ruined blouse and waited for her to summon her shoes.
"That's it, love," he praised when she caught her heels mid-air and slipped them on as he'd requested.
Her honey eyes were blazing with promises of a long, vigorous night in bed and the mere prospect made his stomach swoop and clench with excitement and desire.
"Now, make sure to dig them nice and hard into my back while I take you," he whispered in her ear and dropped his hands to the buckle on his belt, slipping it free. He tugged it from the belt loops and flung it aside, popped open the button on his trousers and unzipped himself. "I don't want you to be quiet tonight. I need to hear you."
And then he dragged the soaked gusset of her knickers aside and pushed slowly into her, watching her mouth pop open and her eyes squeeze shut.
She felt like the sweetest fucking nirvana…
xxx
Draco pushed the door open to reveal their quarters to Hermione. He watched her carefully as she stepped inside to inspect what would be their new home for the next few months.
He'd spent all of yesterday getting their wing of the Manor ready, doing his best to make it resemble their home as much as possible. He wanted Hermione to feel at home here with him.
"It's nice," Hermione said when she'd walked around their quarters to inspect the place they'd be calling home for the next few months. She seemed pleasantly surprised. "I don't know what I expected, but it certainly wasn't this."
She gestured a hand around their living room and looked at him for a moment before lifting a photo frame from the mantle of the fireplace to inspect it. "It reminds me of our home."
Draco's stomach swooped. He was glad she liked it. He'd put a lot of thought and effort into it. "That was the idea."
Her head turned toward him again, giving him her full attention. "What do you mean?"
"I tried to make it more comfortable and homier for you. You wouldn't have liked the original décor. It was very dark."
"You did this?" Her mouth dropped open in surprise. "For me?"
"I told you before that I'd do anything to make you happy."
"She must have incredible prowess in the bedroom for a pure-blood of your calibre to forget what the Malfoy name stands for," a voice interrupted.
It was the portrait of one of his late great-uncles.
The portrait tsked. "Marrying a mudblood when there are so many well-suited witches for you to pick from. She may be a pretty mudblood, but she's just as dirty as the rest of the lot."
Hermione gaped at the portrait in shock. "Excuse me?"
"I wasn't talking to you, peasant," the portrait of his great-uncle sneered. "Imagine…" he sighed dramatically to himself. "A well-bred, handsome Malfoy heir, throwing his life away to fornicate with a filthy harlot."
The sound of Hermione's dark, taunting laugh took him completely by surprise.
He'd expected indignation, rage or maybe even tears from her, but instead, she stepped closer to him, stroked her hands down his chest and smirked.
His cock twitched in response despite himself.
"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I didn't expect such hostility from a portrait. I'll take it down."
She stopped him by curling a hand around his arm and murmured low and sexy, "Not just yet, babe."
His eyebrows shot up with intrigue. "What are you thinking?" he asked, lips twitching with a smile. He knew his wife could dish out the best kinds of revenge.
"What do you suppose would be the worst thing we could do to him?" She bit her lip and traced her finger over the buckle of his belt.
And…now he was painfully hard.
He turned toward the portrait with a smirk, an idea forming in his head. "Do you think a Petrificus Totalus would work on a portrait?" he asked her over his shoulder.
Hermione's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Absolutely." She grinned wide, enamoured with what he was insinuating. "We used that particular spell quite a few times on the portrait of Walburga Black at Harry's house." She turned her gaze to the painted version of his great-uncle. "They get to watch everything going on around them, without having the ability to speak or walk out of the frame."
"Hmm…" Draco mused and turned to face Hermione. He cocked his head in mock contemplation. "So, it would be a real shame if an accidental spell were to hit this one over here?" he asked her, pointing his thumb over his shoulder. "He'd have to witness everything that goes on in our bedroom."
"Everything," Hermione affirmed with a firm nod.
"Excuse me, sir," the portrait interjected with indignation. "I'm not quite sure I feel comfortable with what you and your mudblood wife are insinuating."
Draco turned back to the portrait and pointed his wand squarely at the pale face of the man in the frame. "Petrificus Totalus," he practically sang and a jet of purple light hit the portrait squarely in the face.
"Whoops," Draco said and widened his eyes innocently at his wife. And then he reached out for her hand, pulling her against his chest.
He gave her a slow, languorous kiss and angled their bodies toward the portrait to offer a good view.
His heart raced with the thrilling prospect of what they were about to do, and with every stroke of her tongue against his, he was getting more turned on.
"What exactly did you have in mind, love?" he asked her when he broke their kiss, adjusting himself in his trousers.
"I say we start with something that might be a little more…palatable…for him. Just to get things going. Warm him up, so to speak."
Her suggestion piqued his interest.
"I'm listening…"
"Perhaps a blowjob?" she suggested with a teasing lilt to her voice. "With the mudblood on her knees where she belongs, sucking off the precious pure-blood heir."
"Don't use that word, love," he begged her. But like the twisted fucker that he was, his cock throbbed at the idea of her mouth on him.
He needed to get the hell out of these trousers before the zipper split.
She ignored him. "It'll help you last so much longer when we have sex. We'll be able to give him a really thorough show." She nudged her head at the portrait.
"Can I make a suggestion?" he asked.
"Of course."
"After you're done with me, I think I should spread you wide open and lick that golden cunt of yours until you're screaming my name and coming on my tongue. Get you nice and wet for the grand finale."
"Oh, yes, love," she gave an exaggerated moan. "Great idea."
They ensured the portrait had a proper sideways view of them when Hermione sank onto her knees in front of Draco, fingers deftly unbuckling his belt.
She grinned up at him and winked when she theatrically tugged his belt free and tossed it over her shoulder. And when his stomach clenched this time, it had nothing to do with arousal. At least not entirely.
The reason for his reaction was that his wife could be a devious little minx when she wanted to. She's never been as beautiful to him as she was right at this moment, eyes alight with mischief and arousal. She had a coy smile on her lips, ready to give his Malfoy ancestors the finger.
He didn't know it was possible to fall even more in love with her. The depth of his feelings for her was thrilling and terrifyingly intense, and she was ruining him in the best way possible.
"I love you…" he breathed the words just as she pulled his cock out of his underwear and wrapped her lips around the tip of him.
With slow, deliberate theatrics, Hermione enveloped him deeper into her hot mouth with every bob of her head, until she'd taken him so deep that her throat convulsed around him.
His eyes rolled back from the unexpected clench.
She stilled for a moment, pulling deep breaths in through her nose while holding him as deep inside her mouth as she could manage. She blinked twice to clear her watering eyes and then she started to suck him in earnest.
She kept her eyes locked on his the whole time she sucked him off, one hand wrapped around his hip, the other working the base of his cock that simply wouldn't fit.
And Merlin, he shouldn't be this close to coming already, but the thrill of what they were doing, the enthusiastic way she sucked on his cock and the way she was looking at him had him clenching his jaw to hold back.
She moaned loudly around him, the hand on his hip trailing a teasing path down between his legs to cup his balls.
The sound vibrated through him, made his cock throb and fire lick at the base of his spine, urging him to let go.
"Goddamn motherfucking fuck!" he cursed loudly and fisted his hands in her curls.
Hermione knew him well enough by now to know what he needed at this point, stilling completely and waiting eagerly for him to take over. Trusting that, as deep as he already was, he wouldn't push further than she could bear.
She grabbed onto the back of his thighs to brace herself for the punishing rhythm he was about to set, and he knew from experience how close to the edge of climax this pushed her.
She'd told him before—even made him feel—how wet it made her when he fucked her mouth as roughly as he did. And fuck if it wasn't the hottest thing to know that she was enjoying it as much as he was.
Suddenly, searing pleasure ignited low in his belly, rapidly spreading to the rest of his body.
Head spinning and fingers tingling, his balls contracted and with a single warning throb of his cock, he crested deep inside her mouth, shooting his cum thrust for thrust down her throat.
He threw his head back and cried out her name when her throat tightened around him as she swallowed, her fingers digging into the flesh of his thighs.
She let out a muffled moan, eagerly taking every thick burst of cum he gave her and sucking on every inch of his cock as he pulled out as if she couldn't get enough of him.
His knees buckled precariously from the intensity of his orgasm and his lungs burned as he gasped for air.
So good.
So. fucking. good!
Seeing her wild hair, swollen ruby lips and heaving breasts, he knew in that moment that he was the luckiest fucking bastard in the whole world because she was his.
Twenty minutes later, he'd already made Hermione scream his name twice while he had his face buried between her legs, and she was on the verge of her third orgasm now.
He could tell she was close from the way her thighs shook and her walls fluttered around his fingers, and he curled both digits deep inside of her to hit her favourite spot. He scraped his teeth over her clit and sucked hard on her pearl, shivering at the way she praised him with disjointed sentences cried up toward the ceiling.
Her back arched suddenly, and she keened loudly when her cunt tightened around his fingers and her hips bucked against his hand, eagerly seeking out the friction his tongue provided. And then she exploded for him, clenching so hard that he almost came against the sheets.
After they'd taken their time fucking each other so slowly, dragging out their pleasure to piss the portrait off, they dropped down side-by-side on the mattress, sweaty, flushed and gasping for breath.
"Fuck! That was incredible," he panted and lazily rolled his head to the side to look at Hermione. He puffed a laugh and grinned wide and blissed out. "I think I forgot about the portrait at some point."
"Yeah, me too," she laughed breathlessly. "Think we gave him a good show?"
"Oh, I know we did," he assured her, his body still singing from the mind-blowing sex they'd just had. "I think if this is how you're going to deal with insults from the Malfoys, alive or otherwise, I'm going to have one hell of a good time here at the Manor with you for the next few months."
xxx
It turned out his great-uncle had run off straight to his mother to lament his plight as soon as Draco had cast a Finite Incantatem on the portrait because she was glowering during dinner.
He ignored the tense atmosphere in the dining room, and instead kept replaying every touch, kiss and moan shared between Hermione and him earlier, marvelling at how fantastic it had been.
He hadn't thought sex would his wife could get better than it already had been, but she kept surprising him. And for the life of him, he couldn't fathom how he'd been so afraid of commitment.
Marrying Hermione has been the best decision he's made in his life thus far.
Only when dessert was served, did his mother speak up.
"Must the two of you be so amorous all the time?"
Draco knocked over his wine in surprise and Hermione rushed to clean the mess.
"It's one thing to have relations in your quarters," his mother pursed her lips.
Draco hated the word "relations". Why not call a spade a spade and just say sex? He didn't, not even for a second, believe that his mother was such a prude if her extra-marital activities were anything to go by.
"But to charm a portrait of your great-uncle to watch on while the two of you…" she pulled a face of intense distaste and pushed her dessert away. "He is quite distraught right now, Draco. He says the two of you were very vigorous and thorough."
"Oh dear," Draco clucked his tongue with mock sympathy. "How unfortunate. I suppose hanging in the bedroom of a newlywed couple might not be the best idea for a portrait as squeamish and bigoted as he."
Hermione snorted into her wine glass, Draco smirked and his father simply rolled his eyes and gave a longsuffering sigh.
But his mother clutched her chest and said, "For Merlin's sake, Draco. You're not even denying that you went out of your way to terrorize your poor uncle with your deviant sexual acts."
"Please," he scoffed. "That wasn't even close to deviant. Vigorous and thorough? Yes, definitely. But the fact is that the portrait was hung there to spy on us. And to criticize and insult my wife, and myself by extension. We simply repaid the favour and put him in his place."
"There are better ways to handle insults, Draco." His mother crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes.
"Oh?" he snapped. "Such as?" He rubbed his chin, pretending to consider his options. "I suppose I could have set the blasted thing on fire. Or chucked it out of a window." He paused and glared at his mother. "Oh, wait. How silly of me. That would have been impossible since there was an Impervious Charm placed on the bloody thing. A Permanent Sticking Charm, as well."
"There was?" Hermione asked, appalled.
Draco nodded his confirmation.
"So, you decided to cast a Petrificus Totalus instead and then made him watch while the two of you—"
"Enough!" Lucius boomed and slammed his fist so hard on the table that the plates and silverware rattled.
Hermione jumped in her seat beside him and he reached over to place a soothing hand on her thigh.
"Draco," his father sighed. "Could you and your wife please refrain from any lecherous activities without first covering the portrait with a sheet or a blanket beforehand? I find your great-uncle's whining very tiresome."
"Thank you, Lucius," was his mother's response, her face smug.
"And you, dear, need to stop meddling in your son and daughter-in-law's private life. What they do behind closed doors is their business and—"
"Yes, but it isn't always behind closed doors," his mother protested.
"Stop interfering," his father's tone was firm, brooking no further argument.
Draco had warned Hermione to be wary of his father. He was worried about how tractile Lucius had been so far. It was uncharacteristic and Draco wondered if it was a front for his father's scheming.
If there was one thing he was certain of, it was that his father loved to play games and he always got what he wanted.
"On a lighter note," Lucius announced. "I have good news."
"Oh?" Draco cocked his head, intrigued. The fact was, he was just glad they could move on from discussing Hermione's and his sex life.
"The Healers at St. Mungo's are in the final stages of testing out a potion that could buy me a few extra years. Delay the effects of the poison."
Draco froze, and he could feel Hermione stiffen beneath his hand.
This was unexpected.
His father may live a few more years. And he had no idea how he felt about it.
"Unfortunately," his father continued, unaware of Draco's internal struggle, "It will not have any influence on the damage already done by the poison. I'll remain as weak as I am now, but the progression will not be as severe with the daily use of the potion."
"That's…wow…" Draco tried to gather himself.
Apparently, Lucius took Draco's response for overwhelming relief. "Yes. It's extremely good news."
When Draco caught Hermione's gaze, he could see the same worry burn in her eyes as was churning in his gut.
How long would this drag out their stay at the Manor? How long until they could go back to living their lives in Portland?
A/N: I had a lot of fun with the 'past' part of this chapter and I sincerely hope you enjoyed it.
Just a heads up, I have a lot happening over the coming week and will not be able to post next Saturday. I will resume regular posting the weekend after that.
x