Chapter beta:Dark Akuma Hunter
Pansy was furious. Not just mad, but absolutely-bloody-livid! Who did that witch think she was, waltzing around bearing the object Pansy coveted the most?! Things don't just happen; they are meticulously planned out years in advanced. Sure, it was never official, but Pansy was sure that somewhere in the workings of life she was lined up to be the owner of that particular Contegam Uxorem, the Res Hareditaria de Malfoy; made by Elric-Cellini especially for the Malfoys during the time of the renaissance.
Sure, she may have been a little overdramatic when she fled the Great Hall. But this was a big deal; this was Pansy's whole life! Plus the unfairness of it all was so hard to ignore. There had to be an explanation to it all. She was a smart witch; she should be able to figure it out…..
Granger must have drugged poor Draco, that must be it. But why? What would that Mudblood gain from imprisoning the heir to the Malfoy fortune in such a way…..OH. That sneaky little witch! She wanted what should have belonged to Pansy. Of course she would want the money, the fame, the prestige…and the control over the Purebloods. Granger always had it out for those who were obviously better than her.
Pansy would just have to make a visit to show her who the superior witch truly was.
oOo
Narcissa was humming happily as she busied herself in the sitting room. There were just so many things to do! Of course, many of them would need to wait, as a very important other person's input would need to be added. However, procrastination was one of the leading causes of stress, and Narcissa would have none of that! She had decided to get a head start on all these things when she was informed by an old house elf that there was someone waiting to speak to her in the floo. Upon entering the floo room she was surprised when she saw none other than the headmaster's face literally beaming from the cherry flames.
"Professor, to what do I owe this pleasant surprise?" Narcissa questioned.
"It seems that there have been several surprises for many recently," the headmaster answered in his usual manner where he acknowledges the question while not answering directly.
"I do suppose that is true," Narcissa began, "but as I have scheduled a visit soon it begs to ask why you are, in a manner of speaking, visiting me. Not that you are unwelcome by any means!"
"Ah," Dumbledore smiled, "That would be precisely why I am contacting you. I just wish to confirm a few things about your upcoming visit, if that is ok?" The old man's eyes twinkled through the blaze.
"Of course! What is it you need to know?"Narcissa smiled at the request.
"First, I believe congratulations' are in order. This is a happy day indeed. Second, I would ask that you visit during dinner; I hear the house elves are going to make a lovely lemon meringue pie. Also this would allow a more leisurely paced conversation as it would not threaten to infringe on class time." Narcissa nodded her agreement and Dumbledore continued. "Next is the question of which table you will sit at."
"Why, that is no question at all sir, as they are of Slytherin we shall take our meal there." Her response was confident, until she saw the glint in the eyes of the old man. He was smiling widely, as if something was very pleasing to him. "She is from Slytherin, yes?" Narcissa asked tightly. The old man shook his head in a negative nod.
Puzzled briefly she then asked, "Ravenclaw then?" She paused to allow him to answer. When given no response she tried again.
"Huffelpuff?" Nothing still.
"Surely not…."
Her eyes widened in slight horror as the headmaster's smile became exponentially large. She let the shock hit her and then she fought to regain her careful air of serenity. "Well then, I am sure an agreement of sorts will be made. After all, this was Draco's decision. If you would, might I know the name of the young girl?"
"I am afraid I have already said too much. I was under the assumption you knew. It may be best for your son to be allowed to inform you himself. Have a wonderful day Mrs. Malfoy, I look forward to your visit." And with that Albus Dumbledore winked out of vision.
"Gryffindor!" Narcissa exclaimed to herself, adding the task of making up a list of pureblood Gryffindors to her to do list, as she was determined not to be surprised again. If at least anything else was certain, there was one girl she knew it would never be. This made her laugh, "Imagine if it were to be the Granger girl, Ha!"
oOo
Draco lay in bed staring at the ceiling. Things were happening so fast. Well, almost everything. He was waiting for his turn to use the restroom, and it would seem like Hermione was determined to spend all day in there! Not that it really mattered, but there were a lot of things to talk about. Muggle Studies for starters. In his Thursday class he had chosen the watch, but a new assignment had been given and was due tomorrow… What was he thinking! Even in his thoughts he danced around the major things that were staring him in the face.
He was still avoiding the part where he would have to tell Hermione the severity of what he had done. How would she react?
How exactly would he make the Golden Boys pay for their actions?
His parents were coming in a few days. His mother had sent the package without asking for further details; those details would be the source of distress to his family, which in turn could create a larger problem for Draco.
"Uhg!" he breathed out as he flipped over, nearly clipping Hermione's cat. "I don't suppose you know how to fix this?" He asked the feline, who simply flicked his tail as he pranced to the head of the bed, once again taking over the pillows. It hadn't been easy but Draco and the fur ball had come to a sort of truce during the night. This truce included the conditions that Draco was to keep to himself on one side of the bed and surrender his pillow to the malicious fur ball. In trade Draco was allowed to sleep without additional scratching on his person. This wasn't exactly fair or even, but it got them through the night. The cat may not know it, but he had started a small war, one that Draco planned on winning; after all, Crookshanks was just a cat- sort of. As they continued their stare down Draco realized he was doing it again. Finding any excuse not to think about the unpleasant things he knew would follow his actions. He never really cared for consequences, whether they were natural or logical.
"Sorry, I didn't realize I was taking so long, but I needed to floss." His train of thoughts were interrupted as Hermione emerged from the bathroom.
"Floss?" he questioned.
"Oh?" she seemed a bit surprised, "Um, I knew dental care wasn't a priority with wizarding folks, but I assumed you at least knew about it. Flossing is a way of removing stuff from between your teeth with a small string."
"I know what flossing is!" He sulked, "Just thought it was strange that you still do things the muggle way when there are spells for things like that."
"Habits die hard I suppose," she said with a smile. His eyes softened with that smile; sure, there were going to be some consequences for his actions, but they were going to be worth it. "Well? Hurry up! As nice as these rooms are I would like to spend my Sunday doing more things than just standing here."
Sunday. Sunday? SUNDAY!
"Crap!" Draco exclaimed while darting into the bathroom. Surprised at his sudden movements Hermione shouted at him through the door.
"I know I said to hurry, but I didn't think you would take me so literally!" Moments later he was rushing back out the door.
"Come on, I'm late!" he said, pulling on her arm as he hurried towards the stairs.
"Wait!" Hermione protested as she dug her heels into the carpet. "You are going to have to offer more information than that if you want me to run though the school like a maniac." He turned about and said one word.
"Quidditch!"
"Isn't it always quidditch with you wizards?" She rolled her eyes, "but I don't really see how this has any effect on me." Draco shifted his weight back and forward as he worked through his thoughts. With everything else on his mind he had forgotten about his quidditch practice. If they hurried he would be able to make it to his room to gather his equipment and then to the pitch in time for warm ups. Hermione was right though, this had no real bearing on her. It was cold and drafty outside today as autumn began to really take its hold. While as much as he wanted to keep her within her sights he knew she wouldn't agree to sitting in the cold stands waiting for him. And he would get there faster on his own. He still didn't like the idea of leaving her….
"Where would you go, what would you do?" he asked in a rush.
"Where else?" she responded with a small laugh, "Hello, I don't think we have met!" She extended her hand in faux greetings, "I am Hermione Granger, and I spend all my free time in the library surrounded by books and other people who only wish to study!" Of course it would be the library. He wagered between the public-ness of the library and his own safeguard that she would be ok. Between that and the fact that she seemed to be feeling better he decided to pick his battles wisely; he had a feeling she wouldn't like to be bossed around and made to follow him everywhere.
He grabbed her extended hand as if he were actually going to shake it in greetings, but used it to pull her into an embrace of sorts.
"Stay safe," he whispered into her hair before his lips skimmed her forehead. By the time Hermione blinked he was gone.
oOo
Pansy was growing tired of her wait. She had been standing in the same hall for most of the morning. But she was so sure of her plan. All she had to do was wait, so wait she did. She was beginning to think it was all for nothing when around the corner came one Hermione Granger.
"And the fly flew into the spider's web," Pansy announced, catching Granger's attention. "I knew that you would come to the library sooner or later. Even though it is now later, I have you now!" Granger gave her a dubious look and moved her hand to where she most likely kept her wand. "No need for that Granger, I just want to talk. A little talkity chit chat about how you are a no good thief!" Pansy's voice merged from sing-song to cracking with her accusation.
"I don't know what you are talking about Parkinson, now if you would excuse me I will be on my way." Granger stated as she tried to side step Pansy. Pansy hated that tone of Granger's. The one that suggested that she was better than she truly was. Pansy shot her arm out to block Granger's path once again.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about. It's bad enough to drug Potter and Krum, but to slip some sort of love potion to poor Draco is low, even for you!" Pansy hissed.
"Once again I will say," Granger ground out, "that you know what you are saying is untrue. Unlike you I have no need for such potions. On top of that I have stolen nothing and Draco and I are just a sort of friends." Granger made to move again but froze at Pansy's shriek.
"Liar! You are a thief! You plan on taking everything from me! Starting with this!" Pansy's hand darted out, grabbing Granger's wrist and pointing to the metallic snake that began to shift about the wrist it currently called home. "This was to be mine! Somehow you tricked him into giving it to you! Well I am going to take it back, even if it means cutting your hand off to retrieve it! DIFFINDO!" Granger made to grab her wand to create some form of defense, but Pansy had been fast. However, Pansy's eyes changed from greed to disappointment as the serpent grew, deflecting the spell. Pansy yowled in distress; she may never set her poor Draco free!
"Seems to me that you are the liar here. Just want to talk my arse! You are making no sense; this is just a friendship bracelet! " Granger hissed, although doubt was forming in her eyes.
"Do you even know what that is?!" Pansy's eyes widened even further. "You don't, do you! You took the most precious thing from me and you don't even know what it is!"
"Enlighten me." Granger spat. Pansy composed herself a bit before continuing.
"That friendship bracelet, as you call it, is none other than the Contegam Uxorem, the Res Hareditaria de Malfoy!" Pansy said, triumphantly waiting for it to sink in.
"And that means what exactly?" Granger questioned.
"How can you be so stupid?" Pansy was at her limit. "It means I am done here!" If Draco hadn't told this stupid mudblood what it was before slapping it on her then Pansy wasn't sure what to make of it. At this point all she knew was that if she stuck around any longer she was liable to do something stupid herself that may land her in trouble. Draco is stupid, who would want him anyway! With a final loud sniff she stomped away.
oOo
Hermione was confused as she watched Pansy Parkinson sulk away. Her eyes drifted down to the silvery snake wrapped around her wrist. The serpent was dormant once again, but it awakened many new questions for Hermione. It was time for some answers, and since she was on her way, what better place to be other than the library.
Inside the main library she went to work. She pulled out books on several topics ranging from magical items, connections, to a simple Latin dictionary. After several minutes she was able to put together some simple notes down to paper to help broaden her search. She knew that this was an heirloom of the Malfoy family, it didn't take a genius to figure that part out. She knew it was old and most likely expensive. It was this thought that reminded her of what the Fat Lady and Draco were talking about that night.
Elric-Cellini. That was the name of the maker! She flew from her desk back to the stacks, looking for any book that might be helpful with her research. It was while she was flipping through an old jewelry catalog that she found something. Elric-Cellini was a highly skilled Venetian bench jeweler in the 1600's. He was famed for making things only in sets in addition to his pieces having a wide magical variety. Adding this new knowledge to the term "Contegam" Parkinson had used Hermione was able to deduce that this particular set was designed to shield the wearer from a certain level of harm.
It was the "Uxorem" part that bothered Hermione Granger. That is if she was still indeed Hermione Granger.
oOo
Draco had been soaring through the air when the amulet on his arm tensed. He became worried and almost got slammed into by a backbeat bludger. He had to perform a sloth grip roll to avoid the heavy ball. Draco peeled off his intended course, now aiming towards the beater.
"NO COBBING DRACO," the captain bellowed, foreseeing what Draco was about to do. Graham flew closer so he wouldn't have to yell.
"I wasn't going to elbow him, just merely practice my Transylvanian Tackle, nothing illegal about that move," Draco protested.
"You know the whole school has a bias against Slytherins, no reason to give them anything to use against us. Remember, that is our surprise attack this year; by running a clean game the other teams will be so paranoid waiting for us to do something they will shake themselves off their broom! Now what's the matter with you today?"
Draco thought for a moment, his attentions on the snake that had reverted back to normal. Everything should be fine, but the worry continued to nag him.
"Nothing, I'm great." Draco lied as his mind was full of unrelenting thoughts full of events that may have caused the snake to tense.
"Alright then, better hurry before Zabini decides to Snitchnip you again, it was only funny the first time!"
Seeing on how the snake had only given a single squeeze and then nothing Draco decided to finish out practice. The worry over everything slowly melted away as he feinted about the sky. This was true relaxation; nothing could bring him down from these towering heights. That is, except for the small yet angry looking figure marching form the school to the pitch. There was a brief fight or flight idea that shot through his mind before he shook his head and tilted his broom towards the ground. Wind rushed through his hair as he sped closer to the earth. He pulled up to a stop a few meters from the ground and flashed her, what he hoped to be, an endearing smile. Maybe if he was charming enough he could slip through this impending argument and come out victorious on the other side.
He did wonder about his luck as her face remained stony.
"Do you know what this is?" Hermione demanded pointing to her wrist, and thus the snake amulet.
"Yes," Draco responded weakly.
"Well, now I do as well." She stated.
"I figured," Draco began, lowering his broom toward the ground then dismounting. "I meant to tell you, really, I just…wasn't sure how," he finished lamely.
"Wasn't sure how to tell me what? That you lied? That this isn't a friendship bracelet? That it is really a device created to defend a spouse from danger while informing the other? While we are on that note can you tell me since when were we each others spouses? Was that what all that ceremony was about? And when in all of this was I even consulted? I feel like I was taken advantage of in a whole new way, that this was all some big trick!" As she was seething in her anger he decided a little rock by his toe was very interesting. "Well? Aren't you going to say anything?"
"What's there to say? Yes, I didn't tell you the whole truth, but I only did it to protect you! I didn't want them to hurt you again..." The pebble he had previously been moving with his toe wasn't so interesting anymore and he kicked it away. With that he finally looked up to meet her face. "But that's all, you have the rest wrong."
"How am I wrong? I looked it all up while I was in the library. I was originally going to do some of my school work when on the way in I had a run in with Pansy Parkinson. She had some really interesting things to tell me, even showed me how this trinket works by trying to take a slice of me!" Hermione's eyebrows were knit together as she thumbed at the ridge above the serpent's eye.
"That explains the disturbance," Draco commented to himself. "Look, like I said, you have part of it wrong. We aren't married, well not in the official sense of things. While it is true that these," he said this while gesturing to both his and her talisman, "were made to protect one spouse and strengthen their connection to each other, it's not permanently binding. In fact, the Wizengamot would throw it right out seeing how it doesn't match their criteria for a legal marriage." Draco felt uncomfortable admitting to this, but he wasn't sure which part made him feel this way. Maybe it was the part where he was planning on leaving out vital information again. Or maybe it was the part where he was growing to like the idea of being attached to her and feared she would leave him if given the chance.
"You keep saying things like 'official' and 'legal', but what does this mean outside of the Wizengamot Administration? Even within their bureaucracy there are many loopholes that may allow something such as this to stick! How can you be so sure about all of this?" She threw her hands up in exasperation.
"I'm sorry! Like I said, this was something temporary just to protect you! Besides, would it really be that terrible if this was for real? If this was permanent? I don't think it would be as bad as you are making it seem." Draco looked away from her, hiding the red flush that was spreading across his face. He hadn't meant to say something like that, but once he had he realized he had meant it.
When he finally looked back to Hermione he saw that she too looked a bit shocked with a tinge of pink in her cheeks, and he didn't think it was from the cold.
"I think," she began, biting her lip, "I think I need some time to take this all in, time to think about all of this."
"Then think, you're good at that," Draco said before impulsively stealing a kiss. It was short and chaste, but he had wanted to leave a small impression, "or don't think, it has worked in my favor so far." With that he mounted his broom and kicked off, wheeling into the air. He didn't watch her as she turned to walk back to the castle. With his eyes half closed he careened through the sky, precariously dipping up and down, urging his broom to carry him faster and faster to outrun life itself; for now he just wanted to lose himself in the motions. He wanted for at least a moment to be free of all his burdens.
He really hoped he had not just gone and messed everything up, that is one of the things he was good at.