Disclaimer: These aren't my characters. They belong to JK, no part of them came from my brain, but I do enjoy playing with them.
Warning: Language, Substance Use and Sex. Turn back if this isn't your cup of tea.
Thank you to all of my lovely reviewers. I love to hear what you think. In particular thanks to BB Macintosh, LilyMorolas, Phoenix Electra, WhiteLight 72, chemical heart-x, elliee505, Bella Leux Bazireth, EmeraldGlance, Shaeya Sedjet, Sweet Revenge16 and lilnicky21. Knowing someone will read this as I continue gives me the heart to keep typing away.
Questions, comments, concerns? I am all ears.
Please see Author Notes at the bottom so I can give credit where credit is due.In the Garden of Eden
She held her breath as the apparated to a small restaurant in Hogsmeade. Hermione was sure she had never seen this building before and certainly could not ever remember mention of a Veela Club. But how could anyone ever miss this place? The outside was bedecked in the flickering white lights of fairies that illuminated walls of soft blue and gold. The archway into the restaurant was a brilliant redwood polished to a shine.
"What is this Draco?"
He smirked, "Invite only love, now come and let me spoil you for a bit."
Hermione Granger was thoroughly unaccustomed to being spoiled and felt no slight bit of unease at his affections. As he took her on his arm a maitre-de met them at the door and ushered them inside.
The man was dressed in silver silk robes and obviously shared a veela heritage. His gold blonde hair and green eyes were a dead give away, and when he looked at Hermione she felt a bit wild. She thought him incredibly handsome, and did her best to fight off the pheromones she knew her body was swathed in. The maitre-de surveyed the two and winked at Hermione, "Mr. Malfoy, what a pleasure to see you. Is this the infamous Hermione Granger?"
She attempted to shrink a bit behind Draco.
"Claude, meet my girlfriend, Miss Granger. I know I can trust you to be discreet." It was not a question when Draco said this.
Claude pressed his lips together and kissed two fingers, "My lips are sealed."
Draco nodded, "Good Claude, our table?"
The man led them to the rooftop. Although it was a cool night warming charms keep the balcony balmy. A single table sat on the edge of a lush garden overlooking Hogsmeade. Candles floated in the air and bundles of blush roses were scattered about the room with petals on the floor. Draco turned to the maitre-de, "Very nice Claude, quite romantic."
A waiter came from the shadows with menus and a bottle of champagne. Draco poured two glasses of bubbly then pulled her over to the village viewpoint. He lifted his glass to meet hers, "Happy Halloween Mina."
The clinked their glasses, "Happy Halloween Draco." Hermione knew that Halloween was the sacred holiday of the wizard calendar and couldn't help but feel grateful that Draco would want to spend it with her.
She took a quick sip for her glass and lightly kissed his lips, "Thank you for all of this Draco."
He grinned, "It is nothing."
"Nothing? It is something to me, we are celebrating a holiday together."
Draco was about to speak when the waiter returned. Hermione had not even bothered to look at the menu but Draco was undeterred. "The steak, the boar and the lobster, make it two courses." The waiter bowed and moved off swiftly.
Draco took her to the view again. His breath was ragged as he pulled her close into his embrace, she noticed he was shaking a bit and gazing at her intently. "Draco is something wrong?"
He pulled her tighter, "No nothing is wrong, it's just, Mina I know this is far too quick, but at the same time I feel it is right and although I planned on doing this much, much later, I am compelled to do the right thing and follow the urges of this damn infernal mark." He pushed her back to look straight into her eyes, "Hermione Granger I want to make my intentions known right now. I am in this for the long run; we do not have a chance to turn back now. So I ask you to accept from me this sacred gift of a bonding ring, binding our souls and our intentions together until we willingly take the next step in the magical binding cycle."
Hermione's eyes bulged and she said nothing for many long seconds and then, "Are you serious?"
Draco resisted the urge to rage at her about the implications of what she had just asked when he had his heart on the line but resisted the urge and instead gently replied, "Yes Mina, I am perfectly serious."
She hesitated before looking in his eyes, but the moment their sight touched he saw her melt, "Yes Draco, I will."
He kissed her hand soundly and grinned before pulling out a small box. Draco slowly opened the crushed velvet case then turned it to face her.
Hermione squealed at the sight, "Really Draco?"
He kissed her hand, "Really Mina. This is among the oldest of the Malfoy jewels. It is reputed to have come from the Merovingian line, although I can in no way confirm that. It has been out of use for half a millennium, but I thought it suited you." Hermione seemed to think that as well, the ring was delicate platinum filigree, large enough to almost encompass up to her knuckle, wound in the design of a fleur-de-lis. Into it were woven three brilliant rubies, three dark green emeralds and three perfect diamonds. Each stone gleamed brilliantly.
"Now Mina you do realize by accepting this we start the first step of the marriage binding, the commitment. With this I accept you as my responsibility and you in turn accept me. It is liable to intensify our emotions in both good and bad ways, as well as increasing our attraction to one another. In addition all Malfoy rings are charmed so only those you have announced the news to can see it. I know this is too soon, but I wanted my intentions clear."
Hermione held out her hand and nodded. The moment he slipped the ring on Hermione crushed against him in a fervent kiss. Draco responded in full, but pulled away once again, "Mina as long as you wear that ring you are protected by the Malfoy legacy. Nothing but the most powerful curse can harm you."
"Or what?"
He shuddered, "Let us not think of that." They were interrupted by the food.
By 9pm they had finished a succulent meal and it was time for the masque. Hermione allowed Draco to lead her over to the Poison Toadstool before baulking, "Draco we will never get away with this!"
He snickered at her, "Trust me Granger, no one will know."
She felt her body alter and knew Malfoy had implemented her costume. The man across from her looked nothing like the Draco she knew. He extended an arm, "Come on Eve, come join me in the debauchery."
Inside the venue the music pulsed and raged. Witches and wizards crushed against one another throbbing to the music. In truth Hermione recognized no one. She was relieved to see that other witches were dressed in similarly skimpy attire, some even had on less, if that was possible, than she.
Draco pulled her to the center of the floor. The space cleared as he ground against her in a sensual dance. Hermione quickly recognized the tune, it was muggle, leading her to wonder about the DJ, but perfect to dance to, pure 90's muggle crap Better off Alone by Alice DJ.
Hermione's body throbbed to the techno beat as she writhed with Draco they were chest to chest, crushed pelvis to pelvis and she prayed that his charms would hold. By the end of the song Draco was panting and pawing at her, "Let's leave Mina." She shoved him off, "Sorry Adam, you brought me here; you get to see it through."
Her eyes scanned the room for Harry before resting on a certain vampire eyeing a red headed Queen Mary, complete with dripping blood. She strode quickly to him, "Harry, a vampire, really?"
His brows shot up in shock, "What the fuck Mione, you are Eve?" He paused for effect, "Does that mean Malfoy is Adam?"
She chuckled, "Yes Harry, you called us out."
He blushed, "I am just not used to the sensual side of you, you two put on quite a show out there already."
It was her turn to blush, "Sorry Harry, he just…"
Harry took her arm and pulled her outside bracing himself for the worst. "He what Mione?"
She faltered, "He presented me with a bonding ring tonight Harry…"
Harry took a long pause and viewed her hand. A brilliant ring stood on her ring finger, one diamond in particular glinted at him, "You said yes?"
She sighed, "I love him Harry, I haven't ever felt this before."
Harry inhaled sharply, "Nor will you again Mione, congratulations."
The sincerity in his voice shocked her, "Seriously?"
He grinned, "Most seriously Mione. Somehow I know Malfoy will treat you right and take care of you for the rest of your days."
She smiled till she thought her face might crack, "Bloody odd right?"
He winked, "Very."
Before passing her off to Adam he pulled Draco aside, "I give you my blessing Malfoy, but hurt her and I will kill you."
Draco smirked, "I would rather cruciatus myself than hurt her Potter."
Harry laughed, "Good, now go please your bride Malfoy."
Draco hurried to Hermione and took her in his arms to a slow song. The young witches in the crowd moaned at the song and began to sing along to the words. Hermione thought it trite but enjoyed the chance to be calm next to Malfoy.
Draco took her into a deep hold and pushed his body against hers. "You know Granger, the masque is unveiled in one hour, you want to return home before then?"
Hermione took his hand, "Let's leave now, before questions are raised."
Draco led her outside then apparated to the grounds. He led her quickly through the dorms to his chambers, "Stay with me for the first night as my betrothed?"
She blushed at the meaning of his words and climbed into his bed.
The appendix is currently under construction. I figure there is no use including an ouroboros if I dont even bother to explain it! Hope to have it up soon.
The story has about 30 more chapters written so I apologize if the introduction to the plot is a bit slow going, but I do think it is necessary to explain what happens down the line. Enjoy and REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!
Any and all reviews are appreciated, press the button, leave a comment.
I would love to hear what you think so far, good and bad. Two more notebooks of handwriting yet to get up. Slowly but surely!
A/N- Okay so two other brilliant authors need to be cited for this work.
The first is over at Coloured Grey (my favorite!) and is taken from The Dragon's Bride by Rizzle. A 50 chapter masterpiece that I love to read and re-read. The concept of the Fida Mia is taken from that story. My mark is, of course, not the Fida Mia. But if you would like to know what it is, the background and why live tattoos kick total ass check out the story.
Here gentle reader is where I need your help: The second author I have no idea how to find, or when I read the story in the past year. I have tried everything to find the story and ask permission to play with the ideas. But to no avail. The story I found was about the Order, including the rose marks on the arms and ther Merovingian line. I loved it so much that I wrote a fanfic (this story) about her fanfic. Although the stories go drastically differently and have little in commone I would like to find and credit this author. If you know who it is PLEASE point me in the right direction.