The next three weeks passed in a blur of flashing memories and snatched experiences. All of Hermione's experiences revolved around the Queen's affair with her knight and most of her memories were filled with images of Draco. A couple of times a week Draco snuck into Hermione's chambers and stayed the night and the couple tried to spend as much time together as possible. By now Hermione was partly dreading the spell ending, she knew there would be no way she could face the real Draco without remembering what she had experienced in the story.
After three weeks of short, sharp experiences Hermione was surprised to find herself experiencing something that didn't involve Draco and sneaking about. Hermione had spent the morning with Ginny, getting fitted for a new dress, and she was now sitting reading in a secluded gazebo at the bottom of the palace gardens. It was the Queen's birthday in a few days and the entire castle was busy preparing for the ball the King had decided they should have. Since Hermione wasn't allowed to do any organising for the event she had wandered off to get out of the way.
Hermione had been reading for about ten minutes when she heard a noise in the trees behind her. Whirling round she scanned the trees, but it was so dark she couldn't see anything, figuring it was just an animal she turned back to her book. Less than five minutes later she was disturbed again and eager to find out what was interrupting her reading time she put the book down and stepped into the trees.
"Is anyone here?" Hermione called. If there was a person hiding in the trees she knew the sound of her voice would either prompt them to show themselves or they would flee.
Getting no response Hermione turned round, only to run into a solid form. Hermione opened her mouth the scream but before she uttered a word a hand clamped down over her mouth. Looking up at her attacker, Hermione was both relieved and annoyed to find herself looking into a familiar pair of grey eyes.
Slapping Draco's hand away from her mouth Hermione glared at her lover. "What are you doing sneaking around in the trees? You scared me."
"Sorry." Draco smirked, looking anything but sorry. "I was passing by and spotted you in the gazebo, I thought I would come and say hello."
"Why didn't you just come and sit with me?" Hermione asked.
"People might see." Draco responded.
"So what." Hermione shrugged, not seeing the problem. "We're often together, people will think nothing if it."
"People would think nothing of us talking, but I wasn't planning on talking." Draco responded, as he stepped closer towards Hermione and backed her up against a nearby tree.
"We can't." Hermione protested as Draco placed his arms on either side of her, trapping her between the tree trunk and his toned body. "Someone might see."
"The only way someone will see is if they come right into the trees." Draco said, leaning down and placing kisses along the side of Hermione's neck. "And no-one comes into the trees."
Hermione was going to protest but Draco's lips moved round to hers and her argument was cut off. When Draco's tongue coaxed its way into her mouth Hermione gave up the idea of protesting, she wanted Draco as much as he wanted her and it was pointless to fight it. Moving her arms to wrap around Draco's neck, Hermione pulled the blond closer towards her.
After a bit of kissing Hermione was just as eager as Draco to continue and her hands began wandering down his torso. Hermione's fingers quickly bypassed the chainmail he was wearing and settled at the top of his trousers. Expertly she untied the laces of his trousers and pushed them down his legs. When her small hand closed around his manhood Draco moaned and buried his head in Hermione's neck.
Hermione kept up her ministrations for a few minutes, making Draco moan and pant into her neck. While his head was bent she used the opportunity to lavish attention on his neck, which she had discovered had a few sensitive spots. Draco was happy to let Hermione take control for a while and he enjoyed her hands all over him for a few minutes, before getting on with the reason he had approached his lover.
The second Draco lifted his head and re-connected their lips, Hermione knew he was ready to get on with it. Sure enough while they were kissing his hands wandered down her body and pushed up the bottom of her dress, so that it was caught around her middle. He then slid her undergarments down her legs and positioned himself at her entrance. Breaking the kiss he pulled back and looked into Hermione's eyes as he thrust inside her.
Hermione groaned at the sensation and wrapped one of her legs around Draco's waist. Draco readjusted his stance and wrapped her other leg around his waist as well before he began to move. Right from the beginning the pace was fast and furious as Hermione moved in sync with Draco, while they had never been together up against a tree they instinctively found a comfortable rhythm with each other.
Within minutes of beginning Hermione could feel her climax approaching and she began thinking about her real body, which was currently sitting in her room at Hogwarts. She couldn't help but wonder if she was as responsive in real life, in the story it took very little for Draco to get her to climax and she was curious as to whether it would be the same in reality. She also couldn't help but wonder if the real Draco was as talented in the bedroom as his fictional counterpart, although something told her that if she ever got the chance to be with him he wouldn't disappoint.
Musing's on the real Draco and his sexual ability left her head when his knightly counterpart connected their lips, yet again. Hermione could tell that Draco was nearly ready to climax so as they kissed she slipped a hand in between them and helped herself along, she knew from experience that he preferred it if she came first. Not long after Hermione hit her peak, moaning Draco's name as she came apart. With a few more unsteady thrusts into her quivering heat Draco followed suit, Hermione's name falling from his lips as he slumped against the Queen.
After staying wrapped in each other's arms for a few minutes the couple separated and began re-adjusting their clothing. Once they were back to normal, apart from being slightly flushed, the couple shared a lingering kiss.
"I have to get back." Draco said regretfully, unwilling to let Hermione out of his arms just yet.
"I wish we could spend more than a few minutes together." Hermione sighed.
"We can spend the whole day together tomorrow." Draco smiled down at Hermione. "The King has asked me to get you away from the castle for the day as they prepare your birthday ball. I was thinking we could pack a picnic and go back to the river."
"I'd like that." Hermione smiled and gave Draco another quick kiss. "Now you really should be leaving."
Reluctantly Draco let Hermione out of his embrace and the two lovers went their separate ways. Draco went back about his knightly duties while Hermione went back to her book. Hermione didn't bother to pick the book back up though, instead she was happy just to sit and think about Draco.
:::::::::::
Hermione smiled politely as yet another member of the court wished her a happy birthday. She was currently attending her birthday ball and before the feast she was accepting birthday wishes from the court. Once the last guest had paid their respects to the Queen, the King made a brief speech and the feast got under way.
Listening to King Severus's speech and looking around at the ball he had arranged for her, Hermione felt a stab of guilt flaring within her. Despite the fact he didn't love her and barely spoke to her, the whole birthday celebration showed her that he was actually a quite good person. While he may be a cold and at times a harsh ruler, Hermione was under no illusions that under his tough exterior was a kinder, gentler man that rarely got exposed to people. She was beginning to wonder why he had never married before, from the way he treated her, Hermione figured that he would be a great husband to a woman he did actually love.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" King Severus asked, drawing Hermione's attention towards her husband.
"Yes." Hermione smiled and nodded. "It's a lovely evening. Thank you."
"I only wish my surprise had worked out." The King responded.
Earlier that day Hermione had discovered that King Severus had arranged for her parents to visit for her birthday. One of the reasons he had sent her off with Draco the day before was because they were expected to arrive and he wanted their presence to be a surprise. Unfortunately Queen Minerva was feeling unwell and the visit never happened, instead the King and Queen had just sent Hermione a present and vowed to visit when the Queen was up to travelling.
"It was the thought that counts." Hermione told the King. "I was extremely touched by the gesture."
"Maybe once your mother is feeling better you can go and visit your parents." King Severus suggested.
"I'd like that." Hermione nodded. When the King had suggested she visited her home kingdom a few months earlier she had been unsure but now things were more settled she looked forward to the trip.
"I'll arrange something in a few weeks." King Severus said.
Once that was sorted Hermione expected the King to turn around and speak to the Lord sitting near him on his other side, but instead his attention remained firmly on her. As he continued to make conversation throughout the rest of the feast Hermione began to get worried, so far he had never showed this much interest in her and she didn't know if it was leading somewhere. The thought of having to get more heavily involved with King Severus had Hermione freaking out internally, not only was the Queen worried about her affair with Sir Draco but Hermione was worried about her memories once the story was over and she was faced with the real Snape.
Once the feast was over Hermione was horrified when the King asked her to dance. While they had danced at their wedding feast it had been brief and she hadn't actually experienced it, that part of the night was just in the memories she had been repressing. Knowing she couldn't refuse without causing a scene Hermione took the King's hand and he led her onto the dance floor.
As the music started and King Severus took her in his arms Hermione's eyes locked with Draco's. Draco was sitting watching the royal couple just like everyone else and while most people would say the head knight looked in a good mood, Hermione could see the jealously blazing in his grey eyes. Tearing her gaze away from her lover Hermione concentrated on dancing with the King and making sure she didn't accidentally give him the wrong impression by getting too close to him. Luckily he was the perfect gentleman and remained a respectable distance away from her throughout the whole thing. Hermione was even impressed that his eyes didn't dip down to look at her impressive cleavage, her purple and gold dress was quite provocative and more daring than any she had worn before now.
After dancing with the King, Hermione found herself in popular demand. She danced with several Lords and Dukes and numerous other men of court. She even found herself dancing with several of the Knights, the only exception being Sir Vincent as he could no longer dance with his amputated foot. After dancing with Sir Blaise, Sir Gregory and Sir Theodore, Hermione was pleased to find herself in Sir Draco's arms. Hermione couldn't help but notice that like the King, Draco never once eyed her cleavage up, something every other man she had danced with had done.
"Are you mad at me?" Hermione asked Draco as they moved across the dance floor.
"Why would I be mad at you?" Draco questioned, looking confused.
"I don't know, you just don't seem your normal self, tonight." Hermione replied.
"Well I admit I was jealous seeing you dancing with all those other men." Draco smiled briefly at Hermione, making sure no-one could see what he really felt for the woman in his arms. "But apart from that, I'm fine."
"If you say so." Hermione sighed, not sure if she believed him.
"I do." Draco nodded and moved his head so he was whispering in Hermione's ear. "I can hardly act like I want to get you somewhere private and tear that dress from your body."
"Is that what you want to do?" Hermione questioned, suddenly feeling happier.
"Since the moment you walked into the room." Draco admitted, still whispering in Hermione's ear. "I can't wait until I can get you out of it."
"There will be no tearing, mind you." Hermione warned in a quiet voice. "I will happily let you take it off me, but this dress is expensive and I don't want it ruined."
"I'm sure I can get it off without destroying it. As long as later on, you're writhing underneath me completely naked, I don't care how you get that way." Draco whispered directly into Hermione's ear before he stepped back and released her from his hold. "My Lady." Taking her hand he bowed and pressed a quick kiss to the back of it before turning and walking away from Hermione.
Hermione watched him go feeling distinctly flustered and aroused. Graciously refusing more offers to dance she made her way back to her seat and settled back at the head table. Picking up her goblet she drank her wine as she watched people enjoying themselves. Hermione herself had actually enjoyed the evening but after her dance with Draco all she wanted to do was go back to her chambers and be ravished by her blond lover.